In a bid to promote compliance with outdoor advertising regulations and support orderly political campaigns across the state, the Kogi State Government says it has reviewed outdoor advertisement rates for political campaign.
The revised rates were announced by the General Manager of the Kogi State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KOSSAA), Osaseyi Richard, at a press conference in Lokoja following a stakeholders’ engagement and consultations with political parties and other stakeholders in the state.
Under the revised schedule, presidential candidates will pay ₦25 million, down from ₦150 million; senatorial candidates are to pay ₦20 million, down from ₦50 million; House of Representatives candidates will now pay ₦10 million, down from ₦30 million; and House of Assembly candidates will pay ₦1.5 million, compared with the initial ₦5 million.
The fee for local government chairmanship candidates has also been reduced from ₦2 million to ₦1 million.
Richard said the new rates followed deliberations and recommendations from stakeholders, including political party representatives who called for more accessible advertising opportunities for all candidates.
He urged candidates and political parties to comply with the guidelines, warning that violations could attract enforcement measures and penalties.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, represented by the Permanent Secretary, David Tijani, urged political parties, candidates and campaign groups to conduct their activities responsibly and respect the state’s advertising regulations.
Fanwo explained that the guidelines were designed to promote fairness, public safety, environmental protection and peaceful political participation, rather than suppress political expression or unfairly restrict candidates.
He cautioned against the destruction of lawful advertisements, unauthorised use of advertising spaces and other unlawful actions capable of provoking political tension.
Speaking on behalf of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Elder Ibrahim Itodo commended the state government for considering concerns of stakeholders in the review and pledged compliance with the revised rates by political parties and their candidates.
