Following the approval of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) have announced a package of palliatives aimed at cushioning the adverse impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the operations of outdoor advertising practitioners in the state.
The palliatives package includes a waiver of permit fees for outdoor practitioners’ bills spanning three months from April to June 2020 representing twenty-five percent of overall outdoor practitioners bill for the year 2020.
In addition, the agency said it would offer a special discount for all outdoor advertising practitioners that are ready to offset their 2019 outstanding bills completely and immediately, pointing out however that this would be done on a case-by-case basis.
Announcing the package of palliatives at a media briefing that held Thursday, September 17, 2020 in Lagos, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LASAA, Prince Adedamola Docemo stated that a revised Year 2020 bill will be sent to all registered outdoor advertising practitioners with a letter detailing the terms and conditions attached to the rebate, adding that a major condition is the practitioners’ readiness to settle all Year 2019 outstanding including January to March 2020 payments.
He added that, as a way of keeping the practitioners abreast of these developments, a formal letter had been sent to the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) and other stakeholders in the industry intimating them of these new development and conditions attached.
According to the agency boss, the palliatives had become imperative because the advertising sector and the economy at large had been badly hit by the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly the outdoor advertising industry.
He noted that the aftermath of the pandemic had left many businesses struggling and on the brink of collapse, adding that as an organization that listens, it became necessary for the agency to take appropriate steps in assisting small businesses under its regulatory purview.
Docemo added: “You will agree with me that the advertising sector and the economy at large was badly hit by the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly the outdoor advertising industry. Advertisers have either cut or suspended or outrightly cancelled their advertising contracts for the Year 2020.
This situation has made revenue collection an enormous task for our Agency. Foremost among this is the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), who on behalf of its members has repeatedly requested for the Agency’s intervention in the area of palliatives and support to cushion the effect of the pandemic on their businesses”
He therefore expressed optimism that the initiative will go a long way to demonstrate the agency’s resolve to help the industry grow as well as cushion the negative effect of the pandemic on outdoor advertising business in the state while urging the practitioners to reciprocate the gesture by ensuring prompt payment of their obligations to the agency as this will help the state’s agenda of achieving accelerated infrastructural development.“You have spoken and we have listened and showed empathy.”
As an agency, we believe this will go a long way to demonstrate our readiness to support businesses in the state,” Prince Docemo Adedamola: “We hope the members of the outdoor advertising industry will reciprocate this good gesture from the state by ensuring prompt payment of all their obligations to the agency as this will help the state’s agenda to achieve accelerated infrastructure development” he added.
He assured members of the public that the agency would continue to raise the bar when it comes to outdoor advertising regulation while also striving for the outdoor advertising industry to flourish. LASAA was established by the Lagos State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency Law 2006 and with subsequent amendment to regulate and control outdoor advertising and signage displays in Lagos State.
The agency commits itself to the task to re-define the signage and outdoor advertising industry through effective signage and outdoor advertisement regulation and civic beautification
