The Lagos State Government has dismissed claims that it increased billboard permit fees to ₦700 million, describing the allegation as false and insisting that the most expensive billboard advertising space in the state costs about ₦10 million monthly.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, stated this in a statement on Sunday while responding to a social media post alleging that the purported fee increase was responsible for the limited visibility of National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaign materials across Lagos.
The post had suggested that the alleged charges explained why the party’s campaign advertisements were rarely seen on major roads in the state.
Describing the claim as false, Omotoso accused politicians and their supporters of spreading misinformation to damage the government’s reputation.
He said, “It is a piece of fake news meant to tarnish the image of the government by mischievous politicians and their social media bullies.”
The commissioner explained that billboards were owned and operated by private advertising practitioners, while the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) served only as a regulatory body.
“Billboards are owned by private operators. The most expensive billboard is about ₦10 million monthly. The government does not run billboards.
“The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) is only a regulator, not an operator,” he said.
Omotoso clarified that regulatory fees payable to LASAA were separate from commercial charges for advertising space, production and other services provided by outdoor advertising companies.
He said the applicable regulatory fees varied according to the size, format and location of billboard structures, with different rates applying across designated zones.
NDC Cites Billboard Costs As Campaign Challenge
The government’s response followed claims by the Director-General of the NDC Presidential Campaign Council, Ibrahim Abdulkarim, who alleged that Lagos charged almost ₦700 million for a licence to erect a political billboard.
Speaking during an interview on Nigeria Info FM 99.3 on November 13, Abdulkarim linked the alleged cost to the party’s limited outdoor campaign visibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said the party had decided to rely more on grassroots mobilisation rather than expensive billboard advertising.
“We now decided, let us be our own billboard,” he said.
Peter Obi is the presidential candidate of the NDC.
LASAA Explains Registration Requirements
Omotoso further disclosed that anyone seeking to operate as an outdoor advertising practitioner in Lagos State was required to pay a non-refundable, one-off registration fee of ₦7 million, register with the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and meet other statutory requirements.
He added that billboard advertisements, including political campaign materials, must be displayed on approved structures operated by registered practitioners with valid LASAA permits.
According to him, the structures must also comply with established regulations covering location, structural safety and environmental standards.
The commissioner said LASAA had recently conducted a public sensitisation exercise on election campaign advertising guidelines to educate political parties, candidates, advertising practitioners and members of the public about the applicable requirements.
He said the agency would continue to ensure compliance with the regulations governing outdoor political advertisements.
Omotoso also disclosed that LASAA would remove campaign materials after election activities at no cost to the public as part of efforts to restore the city’s visual appeal.
“Lagos will continue to be the bastion of democracy and equal opportunities for all politicians and their parties,” he said.
