By Zika Bobby
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.
In a statement signed by its Assistant Director, Operations and Special Duties Joe Eugene Onuorah, APCON said the exercise, which commenced in Abuja has so far been carried out in Minna, Jos, Katsina Ilorin, Onitsha/Nnewi and would 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) would 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.”
He said 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 practice Advertising in Nigeria,” he said.
He said 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.
He said 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.