PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APCON Moves To Stop
Unwholesome Advertisements
Lagos, April 12, 2017 - The Advertising
Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON has commenced a task force enforcement
exercise to stop further exposure of unwholesome and unapproved advertisements
in the media.
The exercise, which commenced in Abuja
has so far been carried out in Minna, Jos, Katsina Ilorin, Onitsha/Nnewi and is
planned to extend to several other cities across Nigeria.
In the course of the exercise,
advertisements exposed on outdoor structures without satisfying the regulation
requiring advertisements to be submitted for vetting and approval by the
Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) will be blanked out.
The exercise also involves enlightening
advertisers, media owners and the public on the regulatory responsibilities of
APCON as well as on the purpose and procedures for compliance with advertising
regulations.
Incidences of indiscriminate exposure
of advertisements, some of which contain misleading and unwholesome messages,
have caused APCON serious concern. These unprofessional conducts have been
traced mainly to persons and organizations who are not licensed to practise
Advertising in Nigeria.
A large percentage of the
advertisements targeted in the exercise are first party advertisements usually
produced and displayed by business owners without the use of advertising
professionals.
The advertisements typically employ
graphic designs, images and messaging which attract, persuade or invite
patronage for the businesses advertised. Some of them make claims requiring
substantiation.
The exercises do not affect regular
business signages which are typically identification or informational signs
without persuasive illustrations and claims.
The task force enforcement exercise is
one of the measures to stem incidences of misleading, deceitful, offensive and
other forms of spurious messages and protect members of the public from the
harmful effects of such unwholesome and unprofessional advertisements. The exercise complements the Council’s
routine monitoring and enforcement activities undertaken by its various zonal
and liaison offices across the country.
APCON is committed to ensuring
responsible advertising – the use of advertising communication to positively
impact the economy and the society, rather than to take undue advantage of
consumers, disparage competitors or offend the sensibilities of members of the public.
Signed: Joe Eugene Onuorah, rpa (08033723514)
Assistant Director Operations and
Special Duties
For:
Registrar/Chief Executive
