Nigeria’s advertising regulator, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), has mandated skit makers, social media influencers, and bloggers, among others to seek its approval before advertising any product or service online.
In a public notice issued on Monday, ARCON said this is in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and the ARCON Act No. 23 of 2022.
The regulator added that anyone caught violating the Act would be sanctioned and prosecuted in a court of law.
The statement reads:
“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.
ARCON will take all necessary actions including sanctions and prosecution of violators of the provisions of the Act to ensure compliance”
