By Peter Omopo
The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has issued a directive mandating all influencers and content creators to seek prior approval before publishing any form of advertisement on their platforms.
The announcement was made on Monday in a statement signed by ARCON’s Director-General, Olalekan Fadolapo, who expressed concern over the surge in misleading advertisements, especially on digital media.
Fadolapo referenced the recent CBEX ponzi scheme scandal as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unregulated advertising, stressing the need for transparency and accountability in promotional content.
“These tragedies underscore the importance of vetting advertising materials for honesty, transparency, and compliance with ethical standards before dissemination,” he stated.
He reiterated that all advertisements—regardless of the platform or medium—must be submitted to ARCON for vetting and approval to ensure they meet regulatory standards.
“Advertisements that misrepresent facts, omit critical information, or are designed to exploit vulnerable audiences will not be tolerated,” Fadolapo warned.
The directive is part of ARCON’s broader efforts to sanitize the advertising space and protect consumers from deceptive marketing practices.
