APCON moves against Globacom over objectionable television commercial

BY CHISOM NWATU

There is a brewing dispute between Nigeria’s indigenous telecoms service provider, Glo, and Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), which regulates advertising in the country, over indecency found in an allegedly unapproved advertising by the telecom giant.

The particular advertising, Glo dial *109# “Link your NIN”, a television commercial, features a female Nollywood actress and model, Osas Ighodaro.

The television commercial has been flagged down by (APCON) in a statement signed by Olalekan Fadolapo, its president.

Fadolapo said on Thursday that the campaign, which was sponsored by Globacom Limited, Nigeria’s indigenous telecoms service provider, was being aired currently on some TV stations and social media platforms.

“The advertisement was neither submitted nor approved for exposure by the Advertising Standards Panel, the statutory body charged with the responsibility of ensuring that advertisement conforms with the prevailing laws of the federation, as well as the Code of Ethics of Advertising in Nigeria,” part of the statement read.

The regulator said the advert, targeted at the Nigerian market, had prompted complaints about the exposure of the model’s cleavage.

APCON stated that it had written to the telecoms company asking the firm to stop further exposure of the advert or face punitive measures from the agency, adding that further display of the advert will incur and lead to prompt prosecution of the company by APCON.