{
  "id": 20174747,
  "title": "Lagos govt denies N700 million billboard permit fee, clarifies advertising charges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/lagos-govt-denies-n700-million-billboard-permit-fee-clarifies",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-11-15T12:43:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Nairametrics",
    "slug": "nairametrics",
    "url": "https://nairametrics.com/2026/11/15/lagos-govt-denies-n700-million-billboard-permit-fee-clarifies-advertising-charges/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Lagos State Government has refuted allegations that it raised billboard permit fees to N700 million, describing the claim as false and misleading. The government clarified that billboard advertising in Lagos is regulated by private companies, with some premium spaces costing around N10 million monthly. The statement, issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, addressed social media claims that the fee hike was impeding certain political parties’ ability to advertise across the state. According to the government, the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) oversees outdoor advertising but does not own billboard structures or set commercial rates. The controversy emerged after Abdulkarim, a political figure, alleged during an interview on Nigeria Info FM that the expense of obtaining political billboard licences in Lagos was limiting the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s advertising capacity. The government affirmed that all political parties and candidates are permitted to advertise, provided they adhere to established regulations and display materials on approved structures held by registered practitioners with valid LASAA permits. The government also noted recent public sensitization programs on election campaign advertising guidelines to educate stakeholders about applicable requirements. This controversy follows a history of concerns over outdoor advertising costs and political campaign material regulations in Nigeria. In August 2023, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) dissolved the Advertising Standard Panel after an All Eyes on the Judiciary billboard approval violated advertising vetting guidelines.",
  "summary": "The Lagos State Government has denied claims that it increased billboard permit fees to N700 million, describing the allegation as false and misleading. The post Lagos govt denies N700 million billboard permit fee, clarifies advertising charges appeared first on Nairametrics .",
  "key_points": [
    "Lagos State Government denies N700 million billboard permit fee allegation.",
    "Billboard advertising regulated by private companies, not government.",
    "LASAA oversees outdoor advertising, sets no commercial rates."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}