The Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) has appealed to the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) to reconsider its plans to commence the removal and destruction of billboard structures in some parts of the Kaduna metropolis.
The General Secretary, Mr. Sola Akinsiku, OAAN said in a statement that if such an action is allowed, it would be counter-productive to both the State and to the owners of the billboard structures whose investments in the state would be affected.
He noted that at a recent meeting with the leadership of KASUPDA, the association was informed that the planned exercise was in line with the urban renewal policy of the Kaduna State government, to replace all existing static billboards in the state metropolis with Light-Emitting Diode (LED) platforms.
The Association, therefore, requested that the Kaduna state government put a hold on the planned exercise, pending a mutual resolution of all the issues between KASUPDA and all relevant stakeholders including notable members of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) and the Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria (ADVAN).
Akinsiku added: “Our position at the meeting was that, while the government was free to make policies as deemed necessary, such should consider the interest of stakeholders, especially the plight of firms currently doing business in the affected areas and who have invested hundreds of millions of Naira on such billboard structures.
“We still believe that this is the acceptable, decent, and investment-friendly approach to be taken by KASUPDA. And, as agreed at the meeting, KASUPDA should initiate a stakeholders meeting that will include our members, to mutually agree on the way out.
In furtherance to the appeal, Akinsiku explained that such a move as canvassed above is all the more expedient now, considering that their members got approval from the same KASUPDA before they installed the structures that it now wants to remove.
“The fact is to be stressed that while we are not opposed to government’s efforts at environmental renewal, the billboards are not illegal structures as they were installed upon proper approval. It is also important to note that the structures cost a lot of money to fabricate and install,” he stated.
The association noted that Kaduna State is reputed for being investment-friendly; as it was recently rated very highly as one of the states in Nigeria known for ease of doing business.
“Thus, this plan by KASUPDA, if allowed without the buy-in of all the critical stakeholders, will call to question the sincerity and genuineness of such a rating therefore, KASUPDA should hold on for the proposed stakeholders’ engagement and buy-in, which will also bring about mutual understanding and agreement on the best ways forward.
“Advertisers and their media buyers, for instance, will need to rework their engagement in the affected locations; and billboard owners will have enough time to sort out a number of issues, including making good arrangements for running campaigns and how, more importantly, to ensure the safety of their structures.”; he added.