My client, Mr Funny/ Sabinus was contracted by one of the leading international food and beverage organizations operating in Nigeria to create content and promote this new product they want to launch into the Nigerian market.
Everything has been initiated and is already in motion, the skit has been shot by my client, waiting for approval from the management of the organization before my client can post the content on his social media pages.
On Thursday, I got an email from the marketing team of the organization asking us that due to the new Act of the The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), mandating every advertiser to get a License from Advertising Practisioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) that we will have to pause until we secure every necessary license from APCON.
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I decided to set up a meeting with Mr Ahmad Yalwa, the Director of Operations of The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Abuja; he had to clarify some of the ambiguous issues. From our meeting, I was able to verify from him the following;
>APCON is serious about the enforcement of the new act.
>The fine for defaulters is N500k
>Content creators have to get a license before they can post any content that advertises any product/brand; it is mandatory.
>License/approval for each content cost N25000
>License is to be issued 2 weeks from when applied but there can be an express license which can be issued 24 hours or 48 hours from when applied but it comes at a higher cost.
>APCON panel seat 2 times a month to vet contents and issues licenses.
>You do not have to be a registered member of APCON before you can apply and be issued with Licence to run an advertisement
>APCON Membership is voluntary but Licence to run an advert is not voluntary.
According to Mr. Yalwa, these are some of the reasons why they are strict with enforcing the new rule;
>Protection of public decency
>Checkmating lies and bluffs through advertisement
>Preventing fraud and scam
>Raising finances; although he insisted that the purpose was never to raise finance but to get people to comply and regulate the advert space in Nigeria.
Well, I look forward to this new act being tested in court but before then those are the basic things about APCON you should know to avoid running into trouble with them.