Lagos Bans Campaign Posters On Highways

The Lagos State Government has banned indiscriminate pasting of political campaign  posters on highways in the state.

The state government said it observed the indiscriminate pasting of political advert  posters across highways and roads in the state and could no longer tolerate such  act.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Lagos State Signage and  Advertisement Agency, LASAA, Mr. Tunji Bello said within the next few weeks,  government would come out with list of places where politicians would be allowed to  paste their campaign posters instead of defacing the highways with them.

“Government has observed with astonishment the current indiscriminate trend of  pasting political posters, banners and other items of political advertisement on  major highways and roads in the state.

“The agency wishes to remind the general public particularly political parties,  politicians, political activists, their supporters and other campaigners that by the  provisions of the enabling law which regulates and control outdoor advertisement  signs and displays in Lagos State, all outdoor advertisements require LASAA’s  authorisation through the issuance of permit.

“This information has become necessary to educate members of the public and admonish  them against indiscriminate pasting of posters on highways, roads, verges, sidewalks  and bridges in Lagos State,” he stated.

According to Bello, impunity in the pasting of political advertisement materials  would no longer be tolerated by the agency.

“Also of concern to us is that the materials used for these political campaigns if  unchecked have the tendency of defacing and obliterating the aesthetics value and  landscape of our city which the state government has jealously preserved over the  years,” added Bello in a statement.

“To this end, LASAA will in the next few weeks publish a list of identified  designated areas where political materials such as posters and banners will be  allowed.”

“We will also give a time frame for all political parties, associations, supporters  and campaign organizations to comply with these guidelines and in the event of any  infraction by owners of such structures and display materials found in unauthorised  areas, LASAA will in tandem with the enabling law remove or impound them,” he  stated.

The LASAA boss, however, said the information was issued without prejudice to any  political party or association, adding that “it is our intention to ensure fairness  and to apply the rules without sentiments.” Our common interest is to establish  sanity and protect the environment from further defacement as a result of visual  blight.”

According to him, “our agency wishes to reiterate its readiness to assist and  co-operate with all political parties, politicians, campaigners and their supporters  in ensuring that they have a hitch free political campaign as well as assist to  guarantee the exercise of their right to political participation.”

—Kazeem Ugbodaga