The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency has reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, professionalism and industry growth in the outdoor advertising sector, amid concerns of arbitrary regulation.
The Managing Director of LASAA, Fatiu Akiolu, said the agency would not return to the era of heavy-handed enforcement, noting that its focus remained on dialogue, safety and sustainable development.
Akiolu said in a statement: “The era of mutual suspicion is firmly behind us. The Agency regularly convenes stakeholder fora, maintains cordial relationships with industry players, offers concessions such as discounts on vacant billboard charges and seeks stakeholders’ input before making major policy decisions.”
He explained that LASAA does not compete commercially with operators, stressing that its limited state-approved structures are mainly deployed to amplify government programmes, raise public awareness and provide regulatory oversight.
He noted that the agency’s core mandate is to enforce orderliness, public safety and environmental aesthetics across Lagos.
On licensing, Akiolu said stringent criteria ensure only qualified practitioners operate in the market. He added that a moratorium on new registrations and permits, introduced in early 2025, was aimed at curbing oversupply of billboards and protecting industry integrity.
“This moratorium intends to uphold industry integrity and elevate professional standards,” he stated.
The LASAA boss said the agency’s Health and Safety team regularly inspects outdoor installations to ensure they meet engineering benchmarks and do not endanger lives and property.
He emphasised that LASAA’s regulatory approach is preventive rather than punitive.
“We rely on monitoring, early warnings and corrective interventions, with enforcement used only when absolutely necessary,” he explained.
Addressing complaints of spacing and setback violations, Akiolu attributed most infractions to operator lapses rather than regulatory overreach. He urged the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria and licensed practitioners to strengthen self-regulation and collaborate in reporting illegal activities.
To restore order, he disclosed that LASAA had launched a statewide enforcement and cleanup operation targeting unlawful advertising structures.
He stressed that outdoor advertising plays a vital role in shaping Lagos’s visual identity and called on operators to embrace responsible practices.
“We are not here to stifle growth or punish legitimate operators. Our mandate is to ensure a fair, regulated and sustainable outdoor advertising sector that protects investments, safeguards the public and enhances the beauty of Lagos,” he said.
