The Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA) has introduced a compulsory ₦150 million advertising permit for political parties and candidates seeking to campaign in the 2026 local government elections and the 2027 general elections in the state.
The directive was announced by the agency’s General Manager, Mr. Francis Aninwike, during a management meeting held at ENSSAA’s headquarters in Enugu on Monday.
According to a statement from the media office of Governor Peter Mbah, the policy aligns with the agency’s statutory mandate to regulate signage and outdoor advertising activities across the 17 local government areas of the state.
Aninwike explained that the ₦150 million fee is a prerequisite for obtaining a campaign permit, which authorises political actors to display campaign materials and conduct outdoor promotional activities. These include the mounting of billboards and banners, distribution of handbills, branding of vehicles, production of T-shirts, and the organisation of rallies and street campaigns.
He stated that no political party or candidate would be allowed to deploy any visual campaign material without first securing approval from the agency and paying the stipulated fee into the Enugu State Government account.
The ENSSAA boss said the move is aimed at preventing indiscriminate erection of campaign structures, curbing visual pollution, and protecting public infrastructure from damage during the election season. He noted that the agency is determined to ensure orderliness and professionalism in political advertising throughout the state.
Aninwike warned that campaign materials displayed without authorisation would be dismantled, while violators could face sanctions under relevant state laws.
He further emphasised that only practitioners licensed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) are permitted to manage billboards and related campaign structures in Enugu State. According to him, individuals, political parties, and support groups must engage accredited ARCON practitioners approved by ENSSAA before erecting any advertising installations.
Addressing concerns about fairness, Aninwike maintained that the regulations would be applied uniformly to all political stakeholders, including incumbents. He added that Governor Mbah has consistently adhered to the state’s advertising guidelines in his official and political activities.
The agency also cautioned supporters and party loyalists against tampering with or defacing opponents’ campaign materials, describing such conduct as undemocratic and punishable by law.
With the 2026 and 2027 elections approaching, ENSSAA said it would intensify monitoring and enforcement to ensure full compliance with the new advertising framework across the state.
Leave a Reply