Lagosians decry clampdown on electronic billboards

MOTORISTS and commuters who daily ply the route have roundly condemned the on-going clampdown on electronic billboards in Lagos State by Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) officials on Third Mainland Bridge.

   A cross-section of Lagos motorists and commuters on their way back from work in the evening lamented the pervasive darkness resulting from the shut-down of the electronics billboards popularly referred to as (LEDs) by outdoor advertising professionals.

  A statement by the campaign Director of Lagos Commuters Advocacy group, Mr. Fidelis Ojeih, said the development is an unpleasant throwback on our civilisation. The director said all men of good will should prevail on the masterminds of such activity.

  Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) had, last week, embarked on protest march against alleged impunity by the Federal Ministry of Works and some of its agencies for “illegally” erect in lamp-posts and billboards in lagos metropolis without following laid down rules and regulations.

   Specifically, LASAA and some federal agencies with relevant stakeholders have been locked in controversy over ‘indiscriminate’ posting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s billboards and posters on electricity masts in Lagos State.

  Consequent upon the protest, investigations showed, 7.50KVA generating sets used by the operators of the electronics billboards to power third mainland Bridge and their business, were removed and later dumped at the Lagos toll gate end office of FERMA.

  The action, it was gathered, angered the LEDS operators, who, it was gathered, decided to shut down the electronics billboards on the Third Mainland axis ostensibly to protect further damage and destruction to their multi-million naira businesses.

   However, commuters and motorists were enraged over the development as it has led to outage on the dreaded bridge, which hitherto had been illuminated by the electronics billboards.

  Lamenting the ugly development, Mr. Greg Osahon, a motorist, berated the FERMA officials for ‘playing politics to the gallery’ by clamping down on the operations of the LED owners despite having granted them relevant approval to carry out their business. 

   He stated that the development has caused a ‘total blackout’ on the bridge.

“This type of politics is unhealthy for the economy, as it will not lead to growth but retardation. You can see now the whole place is in darkness,” Osahon said.

   Also commenting on the situation, a commuter and a banker, who works on the Island said FERMA high command should intervene to caution its officials as the operators of the LEDs are not merely doing business but also rendering corporate social services by lightening up the Third Mainland Bridge, which, if allowed to be in darkness at night, can be a dangerous zone.

“I will only appeal to the FERMA officials to desist from clamping down on the LEDs or stealing their equipment because the billboards help to illuminate the area,” he said.

   Also in their reaction to the situation, a top official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has decried the exercise; saying that FERMA should remember it is an agency of the Federal Government and not that of the PDP. The official who craved anonymity as his boss was away, pleaded with politicians not to be too desperate on all issues as elections will come and go while the nation and its citizens will remain.