Lagos Government Clears Air on Billboard Fees

The Lagos State Government has denied claims that it raised billboard permit fees to N700 million. They called this allegation false and said the highest cost for billboard advertising in the state is about N10 million monthly.

The government stated that private individuals own and manage billboards. The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency regulates outdoor advertising but does not set the prices that billboard owners charge.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, made this clear in a statement on Sunday. This was in response to a social media post that suggested the supposed fee hike was why there were no National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaign materials on Lagos roads.

The post claimed, “That is why you hardly see NDC on Lagos roads.” Omotoso called this claim false and said it was “a piece of fake news meant to tarnish the image of the government by mischievous politicians and their social media bullies.” He urged people to ignore such stories.

Omotoso explained that the government does not own billboards and that LASAA is just a regulator. “Billboards are owned by private operators. The most expensive billboard is about N10 million monthly. The government does not run billboards,” he said.

He added that the fees paid to LASAA are different from the costs for media placement, production, and other advertising services that registered outdoor advertising businesses provide. The fees for billboard owners vary depending on the size, format, and location of the advertising structures, with different rates for different zones.

This statement follows comments from the Director-General of the NDC Presidential Campaign Council, Ibrahim Abdulkarim. He claimed Lagos was charging “almost ₦700 million” for a license to set up a political billboard. In an interview on Nigeria Info FM 99.3 on November 13, Abdulkarim linked the high cost to the party’s limited visibility ahead of the 2027 elections. He said the NDC decided to focus more on grassroots efforts, stating, “We now decided, let us be our own billboard.”

Peter Obi is the party’s presidential candidate. The commissioner also mentioned that anyone wanting to operate as an outdoor advertising practitioner in Lagos must pay a non-refundable fee of N7 million, register with the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and meet other legal requirements.

He said billboard ads, including political campaign materials, must be displayed on approved structures run by registered practitioners with valid LASAA permits. These structures must meet standards regarding location, safety, and environmental rules.

Omotoso noted that LASAA recently held a public information session on election campaign advertising rules. This was to educate political parties, candidates, advertising practitioners, and the public about the regulations that apply.

He said LASAA will keep ensuring that all outdoor campaign materials follow the rules. After elections, the agency will remove campaign materials at no cost to the public to help restore the city’s visual appeal. “Lagos will continue to be the bastion of democracy and equal opportunities for all politicians and their parties,” he concluded.