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APCON cracks down on unlicenced practitioners, chides MIPAN

By Daniel Anazia
03 December 2016   |   6:35 am
Worried by the activities of illegal practitioners and unlicensed organisations infiltrating the outdoor advertising industry in Nigeria, the Advertising Practitioners ...
Garba Bello Kankarofi

Garba Bello Kankarofi

Worried by the activities of illegal practitioners and unlicensed organisations infiltrating the outdoor advertising industry in Nigeria, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has embarked on enforcement and crack down on the illegal practitioners.

The enforcement, which commenced some months ago, has moved to military cantonments and Police barracks across the country.

The Guardian gathered the military establishments have also issued a one-month notice to agencies that own advertising hoardings within the barracks to secure all the necessary documentations from their sectoral body, the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN).

The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) does not regulate out-of-home (OOH) advertisement within military and Police establishments and most of the illegal practitioners and unlicensed organisations have taken advantage of this to operate in these areas.

APCON’s Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Garba Bello Kankarofi, in a letter to the Media Independent Practitioners of Nigeria (MIPAN) President, Ken Onyeali-Ikpe, dated October 12, this year, drew his attention to the practice by some of his member-companies who engage the services of non-registered/licensed persons and organisations and the purchase of advertising media space/airtime from such unregistered/unlicensed persons and organisations.

Kankarofi said it is a violation of Nigeria Advertising Law and Regulation for persons not registered as advertising practitioners and organisations and not licensed as advertising firms to practice advertising for gain and undertake the business of advertising.

APCON’s reminded MIPAN of its responsibility as a key stakeholder in promoting growth within Nigeria’s integrated marketing communications industry by supporting bona fide and registered practitioners and organisations.

Kankarofi further stated that while the Council was doing its best to stop the nefarious activities of and/or sanction these unlicensed organisations and non-practitioners, MIPAN member-organisations should stop patronising them.

Speaking on the development, OAAN Secretary General, Femi Ogala, said it is a welcome development to the industry and has once again reinforced the regulator’s willingness to clean up the system for growth and sustainability.

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