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ARCON Begins Clampdown on Firms over Digital Advertisements
Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), has warned players in the digital media space that further contravention of the newly promulgated ARCON Act will attract severe sanctions ranging from various fines to one-year imprisonment of relevant officials.
Olalekan Fadolapo, director-general, ARCON, stated this during an interactive session with digital agencies, bloggers and content creators.
Fadolapo said ARCON, which is backed by the Ministry of Information and Culture and the National Assembly, would begin rolling out sanctions to erring advertising practitioners, effective March 1, 2022.
According to him, sanctions will cut across primary digital space owners – big techs, including Meta, Google, Twitter, among others, down to secondary digital space owners, which comprises content creators, skitmakers and influencers responsible for marketing communication on these platforms.
Fadolapo reiterated that ARCON does not seek to regulate social media and clamp down on free speech, but to ensure that promotional content communicated via the digital media conforms to standards as prescribed by the ARCON law.
He said, “As we are aware, recently, the law setting up the agency was changed. The APCON law was repealed. The ARCON law was enacted. During the enactment of the ARCON law, there was a review of the practice of advertising.
“In the marketing communication architecture in Nigeria, as we are aware, there are changes that have happened in the industry in terms of business of advertising and the practice of advertising. The digital space is playing a major role in the business of advertising. Business is moving from the traditional space to the digital media space. We are empowered by the law to regulate advertising, advertisement and marketing communication in all its ramifications.”
On his part, Charles Odenigbo, council’s lawyer, while explaining the implications of the provision of the ARCON Act, warned advertisers in the digital media space that ignorance of the law would not serve as an excuse or absolve persons found wanting of their culpabilities.
He noted that all advertising messages on the digital media must conform to the four cardinal points of legality, decency, truthfulness and honesty.
He said, “Any skit maker, on-air personality, content creator, brand owner — whatever name you are called, the moment you descend into the arena of marketing communication, advertising, and advertisement, the new ARCON moves into operation, whether you are aware or not.”
Odenigbo further noted that all advertisers in the digital media space are now required by the law to forward all advertising messages to the council’s Advertising Standards panel for vetting before exposure or publication.
He added that any advertising agency, which creates and/or places for publication or exposure of an advertisement without the ASP Certificate of Approval shall be liable to a minimum penalty of N500,000.
He said, “According to the vetting code, you will be fined N500,000 or you will go to jail for a term of one year. When they jail you, it means that you are no longer qualified to contest for certain positions in Nigeria again.”
In October 2022, ARCON filed a suit against Meta Platforms Incorporated (owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms) and its agent AT3 Resources Limited at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division.
The apex regulatory body for Nigeria’s advertising ecosystem, in the suit, sought a declaration among others that the continued publication and exposure of various advertisements directed at the Nigerian market through Facebook and Instagram platforms by Meta Platforms Incorporated without ensuring the same is vetted and approved before exposure, is illegal, unlawful and a violation of the extant advertising law in Nigeria.
ARCON demanded N30billion sanction for alleged violation of the advertising laws and for loss of revenue as a result of Meta Incorporated’s continued exposure of unapproved adverts on its platforms.
While speaking exclusively with our correspondent on the progress of the suit, the ARCON DG said the case had been adjourned to sometime in March 2023.
He said, “The case is in court. We have had the first hearing. The case has been adjourned to sometime in March.”
Bosun Tijani, minister for Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, has stated that the federal government is geared towards creating about one million technology jobs for teeming Nigerian youth.
Tijani stated this at the official opening of a solar-powered community ICT center built by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abeokuta, as part of activities marking the 38th Lisabi festival.
The minister emphasised the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to invest in the digital economy, driving inclusive growth and empowering the country’s teeming youth population.
“The president made it very clear when I came into office, that he will spend efforts and resources in creating one million technology jobs. So, for anybody that is following the development in the world today you will see that there’s no world without technology.
“There is a strong shortage of technology workforce all over the world, and while a lot of the developed countries have ageing population, and not giving birth to kids, in Nigeria, the average age is 16.9, so our young people are being projected to be the workforce of the future, not only for Nigeria.
“This center here is one of many. In the next two months, we are launching about 30 of them all over the country. This center will be properly animated and we will put resources into ensuring that there are courses for young people to come and take here.
“We are also going to ensure that there are job opportunities that we can connect them to and if anyone wants to follow, follow the three million Technical Talent Program which we have started already in the country”, he said.
He therefore charged the youth to remain focus, and not be discouraged, adding that there is massive employment opportunities in technology as there is no enough people to work in technology all over the world.
“If you ask anyone that works in technology, the entry salary is between N350,000 to N500,000. Technology pays really well, so instead of worrying about things being hard, they should take advantage of centers like this, empower themselves and go for the opportunities the world has to offer them”, he added.
Speaking earlier, Oba Adedotun Are, Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, lauded President Tinubu for approving the centre in Abeokuta, saying that this has no doubt marked another new dawn for the people of Egbaland, given rapid growth, development, and economic empowerment of the people.
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has predicted that the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) will decline as Dangote Refinery and other local refineries commence full operations.
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, April 1, NIPSS Director-General Ayo Omotayo expressed optimism that fuel prices would fall once more refineries become operational.
He projected that petrol prices could drop to around N750 per litre before the end of the year with a more stable exchange rate.
“We’re looking at it coming down as low as N750 before the end of the year. And of course, foreign exchange will still drop to about 1.3 before the end of the year, and it is going to continue like that as more of our refineries come into place.
Omotayo acknowledged the current economic hardships but insisted that the policy would benefit Nigerians in the long run.Traditional Nigerian cuisine
“The gains at this time are very little, but in the long run, we will make up for whatever sacrifices we have made today as Nigerians” he stated
U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that a deal for the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations is expected to be finalized before the April 5 deadline.
U.S. President Donald Trump
The deadline, set by legislation passed in January, mandates TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. assets or face a nationwide ban due to national security concerns.
Multiple non-Chinese firms have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Private equity firm Blackstone is considering a minority investment, potentially joining existing non-Chinese shareholders such as Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic.
In a strategic move to facilitate the sale, Trump suggested that he might consider a reduction in tariffs on China, acknowledging that Chinese regulatory approval may be required for the deal to proceed.
The White House has been actively involved in negotiations to ensure that TikTok remains operational in the U.S. while addressing national security risks.
With TikTok’s 170 million American users watching closely, the outcome of the sale is expected to have a major impact on the social media landscape and the broader tech industry.
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