ARCON flays offensive adverts, reads riot act

Following advertisements that Christians perceive as offensive on Good Friday, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has issued a warning to advertisers, media owners, both traditional and online, as well as advertising agencies to desist from such acts or they would face the full wrath of the law.
 
Director-General of ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, condemned the acts in a statement, yesterday.

He said: “The advertisements were not only provocative, insensitive, offensive and incendiary, but were also neither submitted to nor vetted by the advertising standards panel, in accordance with the provisions of Section 53(1) of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act No. 23 of 2022.”

Fadolapo assured that the council would take necessary steps to ensure that the rights, sensitivities and religious beliefs of a sect or group of people are not ridiculed, disparaged or exploited.

He said: “Advertisers, advertising agencies and the media/media owners are strongly advised to desist from exposing any form of advertisement without obtaining the prior approval of the panel. Violators will be sanctioned in accordance with the law.”