The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON, has warned advertisers, advertisement agencies, the media and media owners to desist from exposing any form of advertisement without obtaining the prior approval of the Standards Panel.
According to a statement signed by the Director-General, ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, violators of the directive will be sanctioned in accordance with the law.
The Council in the statement said it noted with concern, the series of advertisements exposed during the recent Easter Celebration by advertisers, media owners and advertising agencies. “A number of them were observed during the Easter Celebration by the Council to be unpleasant and demeaning to the Christian faith.
“The advertisements were not only provocative, insensitive, offensive, incendiary but were also not submitted nor vetted by the Advertising Standards Panel in accordance with the provisions of section 53 (1) of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria ACT No. 23 of 2022.”
The Council however said it will take necessary actions to ensure that the rights, sensitivities and religious beliefs of any sect or group of people are not ridiculed, disparaged, or exploited for commercial gains or otherwise.
BV.