3rd November, 2010
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 LASAAâ€
“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.â€
“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.â€
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.â€
—Kazeem Ugbodaga