OAAN Faults HASG’s Position on Proposed Outdoor Bill, Insists Association was not Consulted

Raheem Akingbolu

The leadership of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) has distanced itself from the position of the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Group (HASG) on the proposed Chartered Body for Out-of-Home Media Bill, saying the body didn’t carry the players in the out-of-home sub-sector along before taking the decision.

The Association, in a disclaimer issued on Friday, and signed by its president, Mr. Sola Akinsiku, stated that, contrary to the impression being created by the Group that OAAN, a member of the Group, was part of the meeting that opposed the Bill, its leadership was never consulted before the decision was taken.

The Association argued that though it never initiated the Bill, which had gone through the second reading on the floor of the national assembly, it is however in its full support; since it will go a long way in enhancing the fortunes of practitioners and the practice, and bring sanity to the out- of -home Advertising ecosystem.

OAAN noted that, when passed into law, the Bill will go a long way in checking destructions, usually meted out to Out- of -Home Media assets in the country, and the bastardisation of the environment, through cluttering.

“For the avoidance of doubts, our Association has unequivocally and unambiguously expressed our support for the Bill, as proposed by the most distinguished Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe Harcourt because we are convinced that the anticipated Charter will promote sanity, excellence and professionalism in the Out-of-Home media ecosystem.

“We believe very strongly that it is in the best interest of our practice and business as well as the industry to have the proposed chartered status. At the least, onslaught against Out-of-Home Media Assets in the country would be protected and bastardization of the environment with cluttering would stop.

“Therefore, we do reiterate that we do not subscribe to the statement by the HASG purporting to oppose the bill,” the association added.

It will be recalled that some online news portals, had identified the association with a recent statement, issued by the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Group (HASG), stating the Group’s opposition to the establishment of a Chartered body for Out-of-Home Media practice in the country.