Don’t erect billboards without approval, OGSAA boss warns politicians

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Call has gone to politicians in Ogun state to desist from erecting billboards across the state without getting approval from the authorised body before doing so.

The call was made by the General Manager of the Ogun State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OGSAA) Mr Akinlabi Bandele while fielding questions from our correspondent in Abeokuta.

Bandele debunked the allegations leveled against the agency that its behind the removal of the big board erected by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka in some areas within the state.

The General Manager explained that the agency is not a secret agency that will be working at the dead hours of the night removing anything that contravenes the regulation.

It would be recalled that GNI had last Friday alleged that the incumbent governor’s agents were behind the removal of his big billboards erected at NNPC road and OPIC roundabout in Abeokuta.

The PDP governorship candidate declared that the APC led government in the state has not been tolerant with the opposition, adding that, Amosun knew his days in office were numbered.

Akinlabi posited that the agency will not deprive any political party who has complied with all the required obligations from erecting their boards in the state.

Commenting on the allegation, the OGSAA boss said, “they want to play politics with everything, if you want to do something big like this, you come for approval and not that you just erect anything, anyhow. It is a threat to passerby, and we cannot fold our arms until it causes a disaster before we comment.

“On the board they alleged that was removed last week, I want to state categorically that we know nothing about it. Yesterday, we saw that another one has been placed there with one APC board, we pasted removal notice on them.

“By this morning when our men got there, the APC own has been removed and that of PDP was still there and they have removed the notice placed on it. Some miscreants were seen all around trying to cause trouble with our people so they returned to the office.

“The structure cannot stand there and this is not about politics but according to regulation law. One, they have no application, no approval, the area has been allocated for someone before, if you get there, you will see the base erected by the person, only that they have not put up their billboard on it and lastly, it is too close to the main road.

“If what I have said was not correct, they can come out and debunk it. With the billboard over there, if their is heavy rainfall or storm, it can cause disaster to passerby and motorists. The structure has no integrity and it contravenes all provisions for the approval of a free standing sign like the one erected by the PDP at the OPIC roundabout.

“We have sent a letter to their office and we will be glad if they adhere to the directive and leave politics aside. You need to see the base, they put stone to hold it. it is very dangerous and it is a contraption, we cannot guarantee the integrity of the structure,” Bandele explained.