By Blessing Dennis
The Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency’s (ANSAA) enforcement team has removed posters and billboards that were indiscriminately pasted or erected in different parts of the state.
They also sealed or pulled down other billboards that were non-compliant with the payment of signage levies.
The agency said that the defaulters had been served demand notices based on the type of their signage, but they refused to pay.
The ultimatum given to the political parties, business owners, and churches, among others, to pay their ANSAA money or mount their billboards appropriately ended on December 5, but they failed to make any payment to the agency.
Places visited include the Kwata flyover axis of Enugu-Onitsha Express road, Awka by Royal Paradise Hotel, Awka, Government House, Afor-Igwe Umudioka, Nimo, and Abagana
Addressing journalists after the exercise, the leader of the operation, Mr. Chijioke Agbanyim, said that the law establishing the Signage Act 2010, made it mandatory for any person wishing to place signage and advertisement materials anywhere in the state to get written approval from the agency and follow laid down processes.
He said that ANSAA is the most liberal among other outdoor regulatory agencies in Nigeria because they do not discriminate, as they give all politicians the platform to campaign, and so far they comply with the law.
Mr. Agbanyim made it clear that the agency expects maximum cooperation from individuals in the registration of their billboards and payment of campaign posters and advised those that are yet to pay to comply with the law to avoid the removal of their billboards.
The Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) controls outdoor structures for signage and advertisements as well as structure location, ownership, and operations.
