Lagos denies N700m billboard fee, says highest advert costs N10m monthly

The Lagos State Government has firmly rejected allegations that it has raised billboard permit fees to N700 million, asserting that the highest cost for a billboard advertisement in the state is approximately N10 million per month. The government maintains that individual billboards are owned and operated by private practitioners, while the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) solely regulates outdoor advertising without setting commercial rates.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, addressed this claim in a statement on Sunday, dismissing it as "fake news" aimed at damaging the government's image through the efforts of politically motivated individuals. The government clarified that LASAA is an oversight body, not an operator, and that billboard owners are responsible for their own commercial rates, which vary based on factors such as size, format, and location.

The statement followed claims by the NDC Presidential Campaign Council Director-General, Ibrahim Abdulkarim, who alleged that Lagos charged "almost ₦700 million" for a license to erect a political billboard, suggesting this cost had limited the party's visibility on the roads ahead of the 2027 general elections.