Trending
Outrage trails APCON’s move to implement N25,000 fee on all online adverts
The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has come under attack from Nigerians on social media over its new directive stating that all Nigerian brands are now required to submit their adverts for vetting and also pay the sum of N25,000 to the Council before placing such advert on social media and websites.
APCON is the governing body that monitors and ensures ethical advertising practice in Nigeria.
According to a letter announcing the new directive signed by the Acting Registrar of the council, Ijedi Iyoha,
“Article 21 and 80 (a) of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice, Sales Promotion and Other Rights Restrictions of Practice” quoted in the directive means that APCON’s mandate covers all areas of advertising, including those deployed online.”
According to the new directive, before any Nigerian brand can put up ads online, it needs to first get approval from APCON. And each ad clearance will cost ₦25,000 (~$69) for each ad concept, much like for offline ad clearance.
Failure to adhere to APCON’s directive will attract six months imprisonment or a ₦500,000 (~$1378) fine from the Council.
Some Nigerians didn’t take the directive serious since it was reported in some sections of the media a few weeks ago until a social media user shared a letter from APCON informing a Lagos-based company that it had violated the new directive.
A Twitter user @chandni_lish shared a copy of the letter from APCON dated 4 September, informing a Lagos-based fashion shop of not presenting its online advert for vetting by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), a statutory committee of APCON.
She tweeted:
My fellow entrepreneurs, it’s like this country finds every little way to snuff life out of you. We are still dealing with the VAT increase, APCON is sanctioning social media adverts . Please take a look at these pic.twitter.com/rUYYyFV8Pq
— Canadian AphroDité (@chandni_lish) September 12, 2019
Some entrepreneurs have condemned the directive saying it would cripple entrepreneurship and send many of them still struggling to survive out of business.
Many also argued that APCON has no right to charge social media adverts because the social media companies are located outside Nigeria.
The founder of Printivo, an online printing company, Oluyomi Ojo took to his verified Twitter to react to the new directive.
He tweeted:
“I have tried not to comment on this APCON vetting thing for digital ads but I think we all have to speak up. It doesn’t make any sense to ask a small business to pay N25,000 to vet an Instagram ad with N15,000 budget. Now if she decides to pay, she has to wait for 3 weeks.
“APCON really need to give this thing a second thought. We cannot continue like this. So we want Fabby Beauty whose only shop is on IG to pay N25k to vet are promoted posts, wait for 3 weeks for get approval or pay accelerated fee of N120k before she can run ads.
“I get it. We are in the presence of people who have never sold ice block before so they don’t know what it takes to actually build a business but a little empathy would have been enough. Now small business are getting served for running Facebook adverts. Ejoooor now.
“We serve small businesses at @Printivo and I can tell you it’s not easy for these businesses. I hate to rant but listen, Nigeria needs economic growth more than the government needs to make money.”
See some of the reactions:
This APCON fee is a slap on the so called Ease of Doing Business the govt has been pushing.
Power is poor,low employment, increased VAT charges and yet some vision less persons wants to place unreasonable embargo on online ads.
Who thought of this rubbish?
— Jude Akhabue (@Lord_Babajay) September 12, 2019
I’m just finding out about this APCON nonsense. What is this government actually thinking?
25k for vetting!!? Vetting what bikonu? For small online businesses?? Must be a joke!
It’s definitely crack. pic.twitter.com/AxIL4iWULt
— Chimdimma Ike (@ChimdimmaIke) September 12, 2019
A regular advert cost as low as N400 on IG but #APCON wants entrepreneurs to pay N25,000 for vetting. Nigerian entrepreneurs are already struggling with the taxes & levies. Dear VP @ProfOsinbajo, please help us look into this! I know you are passionate about entrepreneurship. pic.twitter.com/Q7PLt4TOwP
— Yej (@sophiebello) September 12, 2019
APCON wants to start charging for Social Media Ads… you know what,
Kuku send us to our village… who are these guys that sign these policies just to frustrate the masses.. why tho? ??♂️— Do2dtun Energy gAD (@iamDo2dtun) September 12, 2019
Whatever it is the guys at APCON are smoking, I’d really love see a sample. You want businesses on social media to vet any advert through you for 25K before they post. That meins…
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) September 12, 2019
A business that is not even worth N25,000 should pay 25k to get a single social media flyer vetted by APCON?
Someone selling Okrika on IG should pay 25k to get vetted just like MTN, Nigerian Breweries & other multinationals. This weed is konk!
— FAVOUR ONYEOZIRI (@LifeOfRouvafe) September 12, 2019
Forward thinking organisations and even individuals are devicing means to help businesses grow. But because APCON is filled with old men with little or no idea of harnessing digital tools, you want to impose 25K on businesses before they post adverts on social media.
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) September 12, 2019
Facebook does not own a single server in Nigeria.
Therefore, any adverts you make on Facebook are advertising in America not in Nigeria.
Write to APCON and demand proof the advert happened on a Facebook server located in Nigeria.
If they can’t prove it, tell them to fuck off. https://t.co/3B3AvSqaFT
— Suga Dono ? (@sugabelly) September 12, 2019
APCON wants everyone to pay N25,000 just for them to vet every single promotional flyer that you put up on your Social Media.
The irony of this joke is that it exposes us to how myopic, archaic and detached from reality these people are.
— FAVOUR ONYEOZIRI (@LifeOfRouvafe) September 12, 2019
-
News21 hours ago
BREAKING: Cubana Chief Priest pleads not guilty, granted N10m bail
-
Metro23 hours ago
Ortom’s ex-CoS’ wife, maid regain freedom
-
News18 hours ago
Five punishable acts of naira abuse
-
Entertainment23 hours ago
Quit pop scene, Brymo advises ‘ugly looking’ Burna Boy
-
News22 hours ago
FCCPC directs operatives to fight against food price inflation
-
Entertainment22 hours ago
Cubana Chief Priest arrives court over naira abuse
-
News21 hours ago
Naira abuse: Portable repents, begs EFCC against arrest
-
News24 hours ago
EFCC detains Cubana Chief Priest, to face court Wednesday