The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has vowed to sanction bloggers, skit makers, influencers, content creators/producers, bloggers, vloggers, and others who embark on advertising and marketing communications activities on digital/online media platforms without obtaining pre-exposure approval from the council.

The Council in a statement signed by its Director-General, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, said that it received complaints that most of the advertisements exposed by the group are unethical, misinforming, and also carry unverified claims. 

According to the statement, “The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has received complaints on the advertisements, advertising, and marketing communications activities of skit makers, comedians, influencers, content creators/producers, bloggers, vloggers, etc on digital/online 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.”

It, therefore, vowed to sanction and prosecute violators 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.” it reads.