The General Manager of the Ogun State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OGSAA), Hon. Fola Onifade, has defended the agency’s decision to remove political billboards erected without the required approvals, insisting that the law applies equally to all political parties and candidates.
Onifade, who spoke during an interview with Newsline Chief Editor in his office, said OGSAA was a government regulatory agency and not an arm of any political party, stressing that its operations were guided strictly by the Ogun State Signage and Advertisement Law.
According to him, the agency is responsible not only for regulating billboards but also for controlling posters, mobile advertising, branded vehicles and other forms of outdoor advertising across the state.
He said the agency particularly monitors the indiscriminate pasting of political posters on public infrastructure, including bridges and walkways, during election periods.
“It is our duty to ensure that posters are not pasted on public facilities and assets like bridges and walkways. So where those things happen, it’s our duty to go and flush them out and clean up the whole area,” he said.
On the procedure for erecting billboards, Onifade explained that individuals, companies and political candidates are required to register with the agency, after which proposed billboard locations are inspected to determine whether they meet the required regulations.
He said successful applicants are issued demand notices for payment and subsequently granted approval to install their billboards.
However, he noted that some individuals and political candidates bypass the process by erecting billboards without obtaining approval.
“If anybody who has not registered has put up a board, we have the right to go and remove it at that person’s cost,” he said.
Reacting to allegations that OGSAA had deliberately frustrated the campaign activities of some opposition political parties,Onifade dismissed the claim, insisting that the agency does not discriminate on the basis of political affiliation.
He said political parties and candidates from across the political divide have obtained billboard approvals from the agency, provided they comply with the law.
“We are not friends to anybody. We are not enemies to anybody. We are servants of the people, and we are guided by this law,”Onifade said.
He challenged anyone alleging political discrimination to visit the agency and examine its records, noting that billboard approvals are based on compliance with established regulations rather than political affiliation.
According to him, billboards belonging to different political parties can be found at strategic locations across Abeokuta and other parts of the state.
Onifade also revealed that OGSAA had removed billboards belonging to candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that the agency’s enforcement activities were not targeted at any particular party.
He cited the removal of a billboard belonging to an APC governorship candidate in Ijebu, explaining that although the candidate had made payment to the advertising practitioner, the practitioner failed to remit the required payment to OGSAA.
“We removed the billboard of an APC candidate in Ijebu. Not because he has not paid them. He has paid them, but those people refused to come and pay the agency,” he said.
He added that the agency does not concern itself with the relationship between candidates and their advertising practitioners once a billboard is found to be in breach of the regulations.
“Most times, the candidate would have paid the practitioner. The practitioner will refuse to pay the agency. We don’t want to know the relationship we have. What we know is that once the board is there, we confirm: has it paid? If it has not paid, we don’t want to know the candidate,” he said.
The OGSAA boss therefore advised political candidates to personally ensure that their billboards receive the necessary approvals and that all required fees are paid to the agency.
He urged candidates to approach the agency for guidance before installing billboards, rather than relying solely on advertising practitioners.
“It’s a government office. It’s not a party office. Walk into the office. Tell them you are this, this, this person,” he said.
Onifade disclosed that the agency had also assisted candidates from opposition parties by identifying suitable billboard locations and processing their applications.
Onifade further called on all political parties and candidates to comply with the state’s advertising regulations, saying those seeking public office should be prepared to obey the laws governing the society.
“It is our duty to make sure that people are guided by law, especially people who want to rule over people. You cannot claim you want to rule over people and refuse to follow the law,” he said.
He stressed that OGSAA would continue to enforce the law irrespective of the political party involved, adding that the agency had inherited the law and was committed to protecting its integrity.
According to him, the agency has personnel across the state to monitor outdoor advertising activities and ensure compliance.
He therefore urged all political parties, candidates and their advertising practitioners to obtain the necessary approvals and make the required payments before erecting billboards to avoid enforcement actions and removal.
