Few months to the 2027 general elections, ruling parties in various states have deviced several means to wad off opposition parties’ campaign in their states.
WITHIN NIGERIA findings showed that one of such methods is the hiking of charges in political billboards in their respective states.
State Billboard Levy Breakdown
Abia State: This is managed by the agency known as Abia State Structure for Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSSAA).
The presidential billboards are charged N200m while that of governorship is N150m. Senatorial, House of Representativess and state Assembly are charged N100m, N50m and N20m reapectively.
Enugu State: The state government imposed a mandatory N150 million advertising permit fee for political parties and candidates before deploying campaign materials or using billboards. This is so serious that even ordinary political gathering especially opposition parties are usually at the mercy of state government.
Cross River State: In Cross River State, N150 million is charged fro presidential billboards while governorship candidates are to part with N100 million for their campaign billboards to be mounted.
Anambra State: In a state with a professor as a governor, Anambra state, this astronomical charge in political advertising is not left out.
The Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) has set N50 million for presidential billboards, N20 million for senatorial, N5 million for House of Representatives, and N1.5 million for State Assembly. Local government positions cost N2.5 million (chairmanship) and N100,000 (councillorship).
Imo State: Charges N22.25 million for presidential candidates, N55.25 million for governorship, N5.75 million for senatorial, and N3.55 million for House of Representatives.
Lagos State: In Lagos State, this operation is under the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), which denies political discrimination and prices standard political outdoor advertisements between N500,000 and over N5 million monthly depending on size and location, plus a non-refundable N500,000 application fee for boards over 15 square meters.
Kano state: In Kano state, there is no fixed billboard fee. The Kano State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KASAA) said it has no fixed fee for presidential or governorship campaign billboards.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that its managing director, Kabiru Dakata has earlier said that charges were determined by the law establishing the agency and the nature of each advertisement.
However, candidates or their representatives seeking to erect campaign billboards must submit details of the proposed structures, including size, location and campaign content, for approval.
Dakata said political advertisers could also hire existing billboard structures owned by registered outdoor advertising practitioners operating under the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN).
Niger: In Niger state, the advertising agency charges N500,000 monthly.
Niger: In Niger state, the advertising agency charges N500,000 monthly.
The state Directorate of Signages regulates outdoor advertisements, including billboards, electronic signs and signboards.
However, the director-general of Signages, Baba Shaibu, said the agency charges N500,000 monthly per billboard face, depending on its size and location.
According to him, the charges applied to political and ordinary advertisements and were intended to ensure proper coordination, compliance with town planning regulations and prevention of the defacement of public spaces.
Baba said non-compliant advertisers could face sanctions, including removal of their structures, adding that billboard installations must be undertaken through registered advertising agencies.
Oyo state: Oyo state is also not left out in this astronomical charge. The state advertising agency fixes N50m for Presidential Campaign Ads.
In the State, the Oyo Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA) has introduced a mandatory campaign permit for political advertising.
The agency has fixed the fee for presidential campaign advertising at N50 million and governorship advertising at N30 million.
Its director-general, Oludolapo Eso-Ajanaku, said advertising practitioners must obtain permits before deploying or displaying campaign materials for political parties, candidates, campaign organisations or support groups in the state.
The situation is the same throughout the 36 states of the federation. Our reporter gathered it was a way making the opposition parties back off from the states in terms political campaigns.
