By Oluseye Ojo
An advertising expert, Dr. Theodore Ekechi, has warned that overlapping regulatory frameworks, conflicting fees, and fragmented enforcement are threatening the stability and growth of Nigeria’s outdoor advertising sector.
He gave the warning at the 41st Annual General Meeting of the Out-of-Home Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Ekechi, who delivered a keynote on the occasion, urged federal and state governments to immediately harmonise policies to protect investment, secure fair competition, and uphold professional practice.
Speaking on the theme “Out-of-Home Advertising Association of Nigeria in Political Campaign Season: Policies, Politics and Fair Practice,” Ekechi cautioned that outdoor operators face severe operational hurdles from managing separate permits, competing state and local permits, and redundant fees across multiple jurisdictions.
He stressed that the structural flaws become particularly dangerous during high-stakes political campaign seasons when demands for advertisement space surge, exposing billboard operators to a chaotic web of sudden regulatory demands.
To fix the crisis, Ekechi outlined critical steps for reform. They include eliminating regulatory overlap. This, he said, would clearly define authority bounds between government bodies to eradicate duplicate permits and redundant financial burdens.
He stated that selective enforcement must be eliminated by applying rules transparently and uniformly across all political parties and candidates.
He also advocated development of a unified framework covering approvals, fees, and compliance to boost long-term investor confidence.
Ekechi enjoined OAAN members to uphold strict professional standards while actively pushing for government policy reforms.
“If one candidate is denied access because of a regulatory restriction, that same restriction must apply to others in comparable circumstances,” he emphasised.
He added that streamlining regulatory frameworks would extend beyond benefiting billboard operators.
According to him, a predictable and unified policy structure would safeguard government revenue streams, create fair campaign dynamics for political parties, protect advertiser budgets, and drive broader economic growth.
Ekechi urged the leadership of OAAN to take immediate action by entering direct negotiations with government agencies to institute a single, transparent, and coordinated regulatory standard nationwide.
(The Sun)