Outdoor advertisers call for rate review, seek robust relations with Lagos

The Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) has called for better and more robust business relationship with the Lagos State government for the mutual benefit of both parties.

Tunde Adedoyin, president, OAAN, who stated this during a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode at Ikeja, said the association had always supported Lagos State and would want a stronger relationship with the government.

The group particularly urged the government to review the rate being charged by the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) to save its members’ businesses.

“During the tenure of Makanjuola Alabi, a former managing director of LASAA, our members were charged very high rates to operate in the state, and in spite of several calls for reviews to be made, the situation has remained the same. Every company in the outdoor advertising business is practically trying to survive because we are all struggling, due to the heavy burden of the extremely high rates we have to pay,” Adedoyin said.

He commended the current secretary to Lagos State government, Tunji Bello, who he said gave listening ears to the association during his tenure at LASAA.

The OAAN boss said over 70 percent of its bill boards were now vacant as advertisers were diverting their funds to other advertising media, adding that its members had been forced to pay 50 percent surcharge on the vacant boards.

OAAN executive members also used the visit to confer on Ambode the patron of the association.

Ambode, on his part, said the state government was committed to partnering relevant bodies to enhance business friendly environment in the state.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Idiat Oluranti Adebule, promised to look into the issues raised by the association in the interest of both the state and members of OAAN.