Nigerian comedians, bloggers, sketch creators, and other content creators using digital platforms may now face penalties for not obtaining permission before publishing their online adverts, according to the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON).
The aforementioned social media influencers and other digital media users are allegedly distributing content that is against the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice, according to the federal government through ARCON.
This was contained in a press release signed by ARCON’s Director-General, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo on Monday, adding that most of the advertisements exposed by these people are “unethical with unverified claims and misinformation.”
The nation’s apex advertising and marketing regulatory agency said it “will take necessary actions including actions including sanctions and prosecution of violators of the provisions of the Act to ensure compliance.”
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.”
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