The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has embarked on a crackdown on fake or misleading adverts that trick people into believing untrue things.
ARCON’s Director-General, Olalekan Fadolapo, said the agency will not allow dishonest adverts anymore.
He made this statement after a Federal High Court in Lagos confirmed that ARCON has the full right to control adverts on television, radio, newspapers, billboards, websites, and even social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter).
Fadolapo said the court’s decision is a big win for all Nigerians, especially after the sad case of the CBEX Ponzi scheme.
“Many people were tricked by false promises of big money from this scheme, only to lose their hard-earned savings. The advert for CBEX made it look very real, even though it wasn’t.
“ARCON believes that if such adverts had been checked earlier, many people wouldn’t have been scammed.
“Now, ARCON is warning advertisers, media companies, influencers, and content creators that they must get official approval before posting any advert, whether online or offline.
“If they don’t, they could be investigated or even punished by a special Advertising Offences Tribunal. This tribunal can impose fines on them or take stronger actions if needed.
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“We will not allow adverts that lie or take advantage of people, especially the young or old,” the ARCON director general said.
He added that ARCON has created a special task force to watch for adverts tha t break the rules.
Also, Fadolapo asked the public to help by reporting any advert that looks suspicious, adding “we need everyone to work together to keep adverts honest and fair.
“ARCON is especially keeping a close eye on social media influencers, those people who post videos and pictures promoting products.
“Some of them advertise things without getting proper approval first. But now, ARCON says no more. All adverts must follow the rules.
“In simple terms, ARCON wants to make sure that when people see an advert, they can trust it. The agency’s message is clear: be honest, play fair, and don’t trick people.”
