Lagos Law Highlight Requirements for Outdoor Advertising practice in the State

The new law created by the Lagos State Government on Signange and Advertisement activities in the State has been made public.

The law was made public for the first time at the swearing in ceremony of the members of the Governing Boards, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency on Thursday 3rd August 2006 at the Conference Room of the Round House, Governors's Office, Alausa, Ikeja.

The preparation started four years ago, precisely year 2003 when Lagos State engaged the services of a Consultant, Messrs Bell International Limited who was to act as Government agent, contro and supervise outdoor activities in Lagos State. Though OAAN as a professional body quikcly swinged into action, rejected the whole idea and held several meetings with the power that be, met with the Executive Governor and in actual fact conferred on him the Patronship of the Association.

These effort yielded positive result as the State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu eventually set up a department called Outdoor Signage and Advertisement Agency in the Ministry of Environment under the supervision of the Deputy Governor, Otunba Femi Pedro to look into OAAN's agitations and possibly harmonise its requests. OAAN at a point had the unique oppourtunity of making serious input and rejecting some clauses that were inimical to its business, which had already been embedded into the Bill. But it was later discovered that most of the issues or points raised by OAAN were either rejected or removed from the final law.

Earlier in the year, the Lagos State House of Assembly passed the bill and the Deputy Governor eventually signed it thereby turning it into law. At this point, members of the Association have no choice but to accept the law and our consolation, which must be remebered at all times is that as professionals we presented our facts and analysed them as rationally as possible.

The law has come to stay and the Agency to be known as the Signage and Advertisement Agency has been set up with a Governing Board to run the affairs of the Agency estalished. The Governing Board consists of a representative of each of the local Government Councils in the State, the representative of the Commissioner for the Environment Ministry, the General Manager of the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, seven members representing the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Physical Planning, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaency Affairs, Ministry of information and Strategy, Lagos State Electricity Board and four members from the general public of whom two shall represent Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria(OAAN). The president, Chief A.I.Omisore and Vice President, Mr. Bankole Ademulegun are our representatives.

At the Swearing-in-ceremony, the Deputy Governor made it clear that the decision of Mr. Governor to come up with this law was based on the need to ensure an aesthetically sustainanble environment. He congatulated members and wish them success in this onerous task of helping to maintain and ensure a billboard friendly environment in Lagos State. Otunba Femi Pedro informed members of the August body that they have the most sacred responsibility of ensuring that the law is implemented to the letter while advising them to put the interest of the State above any sectional interest.

The highlights of the law which can be picked up at the OAAN Secretariat include the following:

• No person shall establish or operate any billboard or commercial advertisement without being a member of a recognised advertising body except such person is carrying on the business of outdoor advertising



• Every application for permit or renewal of a permit shall be addressed to the Agency



• All licenses, renewal and permits shall be valid for a year.



• A certificate of registration shall be issued to the applicant, which will entitle him to apply for a permit for ownership.



• A registration number shall be assigned to the holder of the certificate of registration which will entitle him to apply for a permit of ownership



• A registration number shall be assigned to the holder of the certificate of registration which shall be used for any corresspondence or refernece with the agency.



• It shall be unlawful for any person to erect , construct, enlarge or structurally modify an outdoor structure or operate any structure for signage or advertisement without first being registered by the agency.



• Billboards have to be built in either a neutral colour or a dark green colour to match the sorrounding environment. The owner of the billboard has to maintain the location of the site around the billboard in such a way to prevent littering and pollution.



• Every person wishing to put up an outdoor structure for signage and advertisement shall collect and complete an application form of five thousand naira.



• There shall also be a registration fee of (=N=100,000) One hundred thousand naira by a billboard owner and a registration certificate shall be issued.



• The certificate shall be renewed every year at an annual fee of =N=25,000



• A charge of (=N=10,000) Ten Thousand naira per inspection is applicable for any inspection per site. If there ar inspection schedules for different sites within one geographical area for one particular applicantduring a single day, then a charge of five thousand naira per additional site shall apply.



• Please contact the association for the Ground Rent of Billboards.



• The lease of advertisers of commercial space of leased billboards or signs rental fee will be subject to a fee that is equal to 12.5% from the rental charge by the leasing company.



• Any person violating any provision of this law, or who violates or fails to comply with any regulation made hereunder or who falsefies plans or statements filed hereunder or who continues to display a sign or billboard after having received written notice from the agency shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and subject to a fine of Ten thousand nairs payable immediately.



• A fine of (=N=10,000) ten thousand naira per week shall apply for any infringement of any of the regulations postulated in this law and for a maximum of 4 weeks. The fine becomes due 14 days after the issuance of the order to conform to the standard has been infringed.