Earlier this week, Minister of Information and Communication, Lai Mohammed revealed that a fine of N100,000 would be paid by Nigerian brands running adverts on foreign media channels.
However, the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups have opposed it making it known that media decisions were driven by the consumer’s interest, passion, inspiration and aspirations.
According to reports, HASG is a body made up of advertisers, advertising agencies, media agencies, marketing activation agencies, out-of-home media agencies and broadcasting company groups.
Revealing this in a statement signed by the various advertising groups that formed the body, they said:
“CNN and other international news channels are watched by Nigerians locally and internationally; the world is now a global village and Nigerians do not only live within our physical boundaries”.
The body added that, “Nigeria based news channels and contents developed locally are also consumed across many countries beyond our borders, with no special fines and levies imposed on companies who place adverts within them”.
HASG made it known that:
“While there are some merits in the bid to encourage and support local production of contents in a bid to support the local industries, the minister must understand that this has to be allowed to develop organically”.
They stressed that, “Also, many leading advertisers are multinational companies who rationally seek to explore economies of scale in the production of materials, negotiation costs and broadcast of their contents which run across many countries.”
Add Comment