Anambra Government Charges N10 Million For Presidential Campaign Posters, Flyers, Others

The ownership of outdoor billboards by individuals, political party candidates, and organisations not registered as advertising agencies, government agencies and companies in the state has been banned by the Anambra State Government.

In a statement by the Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), Tony Odili Ujubuonu, the government restricted ownership of outdoor billboards across the state to registered advertising agencies, who pay certain fees to the government through ANSAA.

In the statement titled ‘Clarifications on Billboard Ownership and Political Campaign Fees in Anambra State’, the state government also listed the charges candidates and political parties must pay to paste their campaign posters on the approved billboards in the state.

According to the charges, candidates and their political parties must pay the sum of N10 million for the presidential campaign, N7.5 million for the senatorial campaign, N5 million for the Federal House of Representative campaign and N1 million for the State House of Assembly campaign.

The statement read, “Henceforth all outdoor advertisement commercial structures in Anambra State can no longer be erected or owned by individuals, political party candidates, organizations, government agencies, or companies.

“Any individual, company or government agency that requires a billboard shall henceforth rent the board from registered practitioners in the state. If a board is erected without proper approval which is given only to registered outdoor advertising agencies by ANSAA, such board or boards will immediately be brought down, confiscated and the defaulter will bear the cost of such enforcement. Also, it is not the duty of the person renting the billboard to pay ANSAA fees.

“It is the practitioner that pays the statutory annual ANSAA fees for each board.

“Regarding the lifting of Political campaign, the fees expected to be paid to ANSAA for political campaign in the state is the political campaign permit fees which enables the political party candidate to campaign in and around the state for the position he or she is contesting.

“The fees are as follows: Presidential campaign – N10,000,000; Senatorial Campaign – N7, 500,000; Federal House of Representative Campaign – N5,000,000; State House of Assembly Campaign– N1,000,000.

“Such fees cover the charges for posting political posters in non-public places, exposure of images on political campaign offices, vehicles, banners, T-Shirts, caps, flags, flyers, wrappers, buntings, kerchiefs, stickers, etc., hold road shows, rallies and use of public address systems in and around the 21 local government areas of the state.

“Note that this does not include the fees for advertising on billboards which, as noted above, will be paid on their behalf by the registered outdoor advertising practitioner. All payments should be made to the Board of Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS).

“Send your proof of payment to the Senior AssetsManager – Mobile Assets, ANSAA Head Office 8, Ekwulobia Street, GRA Awka, or to the Zonal Head of ANSAA offices in any of the following Local Government Areas ( Aguata, Idemmili North, Ihiala, Njikoka, Nnewi-North, Onitsha-North, Onitsha-South and Oyi) or scan and send by email to [email protected]. A campaign permit will be issued to you afterwards. ANSAA does not accept cash payments, please.

“Political party candidates must ensure that their agents don’t deface public places like bridges, buildings, stadia, school walls etc., with their posters.

“Defaulters will be penalized. We urge all advertisers using billboards to obtain APCON vetting of their campaign messages before posting them. It is a crime to break APCON code of conduct rules. It is not ANSAA’s duty to vet your messages.

“We advise that you consult the Advertising practitioner handling your campaign to contact APCON for such vetting. Once again, we wish you well in all your endeavors, keep it safe, peaceful and orderly. Remember, ANSAA is your progress partner in business.”