The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has said that Nigerian skit makers, bloggers, comedians and other content creators using digital platforms will henceforth be punished if approval is not sought before publishing their online advertisements.
According to the federal government through ARCON, digital media users including social media influencers have been violating the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice. The council stated this in a press release signed by ARCON’s Director-General, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo on Monday. Fadolapo insisted that most of the advertisements are unethical with unverified claims and misinformation.
ARCON warned that it would take necessary actions against violators which would include sanctions and prosecution. The advertisement agency revealed that they had received various complaints on the advertisement activities of comedians, influencers, content creators/producers, bloggers, vloggers etc on digital media platforms.
The statement read, “ARCON has received complaints on the advertisement, advertising, and marketing communications activities of skit makers, comedians, influencers, content creators/producers, bloggers, vloggers etc on digital media platforms.
“Most of the advertisements exposed by this group are not only unethical with unverified claims and misinformation but also in violation of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice.
By this public notice, brand owners, digital agencies, secondary digital media space owners (i.e. bloggers, vloggers, influencers, comedians, skit makers, etc), and other advertising stakeholders in the digital online media space are advised to obtain pre-exposure approval of all advertisements, advertising, and marketing communications in accordance with the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and the ARCON Act No. 23 of 2022.”
