By Meletus EZE
The Oyo State Signage and Advertising Agency (OYSAA) has warned politicians and other stakeholders to stop indiscriminate pasting of posters or face sanction.
Dr Yinka Adepoju, the Director-General, OYSAA gave the warning in Ibadan on Thursday during a news conference.
The politicians in the state had few months back littered the state with posters aimed at advertising them and their political parties ahead of 2019 general elections.
Adepoju said that politicians found culpable of flouting the laws of the state would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“We have observed the indiscriminate way in which posters and banners were pasted and displayed on fence walls, highway round about, public buildings, monuments as well as city landmarks by politicians.
“Many of these banners and makeshift billboards debased our beautiful environment, thus, constituting an eye-sore and serious embarrassment to the government, citizen and visitors to the state,” he said.
He said that such attitude was totally unacceptable to the agency, vowing to ensure future violators would be sanctioned.
“This is totally unacceptable to the agency and we wish to warn that future violators shall be severely dealt with, especially now that we have cleaned up the environment at huge cost to government.”
Adepoju said that no political materials should be displayed before Nov.18 when campaign for presidential and National Assembly elections would commence in line with INEC directive.
He said that it was mandatory to obtain the agency’s approval and make payment before advertising materials such as banners; posters as well as billboards were displayed.
The OYSAA boss said that the agency had also discovered that many illegal billboards were erected in violation of the agency’s established ethics and standards.
“All such illegal boards will henceforth be removed without recourse to owners and confiscated by the agency for contravening our laws.
“We appeal to all political party candidates, individuals, corporate organisations, religious bodies, institutions, petrol stations, health facilitators and outdoor practitioners who are indebted to the agency to pay their dues within two weeks.”
