Kogi Guber: KOSSA issues stern warning to political actors over defacing public spaces »

…threatens legal action against violators

The Kogi State Signage and Advertisment Agency (KOSSA), has issued a stern warning to political actors and their supporters to desist from pasting unauthorized publicity materials in public places within the state.

In a press statement signed on Wednesday by the General Manager, Mr. Richard Osaseyi, the Agency said it had noticed with dismay that in spite the announcement prohibiting placement of unauthorized publicity materials, some of the aspirants in the forthcoming gubernatorial primaries constitutes an offence against the Law backing the Agency.

He reiterated that Section 36(1) of the Kogi State Signage and Advertisment Agency Law, 2022 provides that, without prejudice to any existing Law, a person shall not paste any handbill, poster, banner, notice, sign or advertisement on side-walks, tree, bridges, abutment, public dustbin hydrant, highway or on any street without the permission of the Agency.

In line with the above stated Law, the Agency demands that all aspirants in the forthcoming primaries must follow the laid down procedures in the erection and display of billboards, posters, fliers, branded vehicles, tee-shirt, caps.

The GM warned that failure to comply with this directive, the Agency as empowered by its Law would commence the removal of all publicity materials in public spaces from the 11th day of April,2022 adding that all aspirants should note that legal action would be taken against all violators.

You would recall that the Kogi State Signage and Advertisment Agency in its bid to sanitize public space in the State and stop it from being defaced with unnecessary publicity materials, issued a public service announcement on the 29th of March, 2023, intimating the general public that billboards, posters and all other campaign Materials, shirts, branded vehicles, caps etc. Will no longer be erected, pasted or put to use without permission and clearance from the Agency.

The Agency after the announcement carried out a sanitisation exercise at the Ganaja flyover, which had overtime been completely overtaken by posters of gubernatorial aspirants and other unapproved publicity materials.