ARCON cautions bloggers, skit makers on advertising code 

By Chisom Nwatu

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), has issued a statement advising brand owners, digital bodies and secondary digital owners including bloggers, skit makers, comedians, influencers, vloggers to obtain pre-approval of all advertisements or else face sanctions.

The advertising regulatory body in the statement signed by  Olalekan Fadolapo, director-general,ARCON, said that the council had received complaints saying some of the advertisements were not only unethical with unverified claims and misinformation, but also in violation of the Nigerian code of advertising practice.

“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,” the statement read.

ARCON advised brand owners, digital agencies, secondary digital media space owners and other advertising stakeholders in the digital/online media space 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 further noted that it will take all necessary actions including sanctions and “prosecution of violators of the provisions of the Act to ensure compliance.”