By Israel Afolabi
State of Osun Signage Hoarding and Advertisement Agency [O-SIGNAGE] has advised advertisers across the State to abide by the agency’s rules and regulations when displaying their goods and services to the public.
The Director, Administration and Supply of the agency Mr. Sola Shonibare made this known while speaking with our correspondent in his office in Osogbo, State capital.
He explained that the agency is abiding by the laws and rules that established it, which always guide its operations all the time.
He urged advertisers to obtain all necessary permits before erecting any form of bill boards in the state now.
According to him, different billboards have its sizes and rates, so the signpost has its sizes and rates as well, that is why we implore advertisers to come to our office before placing or erecting any advertisements of any kinds.
He explained that there are rules and rates in place for advertisers either politician, companies and public to observes.
He said, “Anybody that wants to site or place a billboard should come to our agency and seek our conscience before doing so to avoid displacement’.
Mr. Shonibare also confirmed that the House of Assembly is working to review the O’signage establishment bill to make it more functional.
Meanwhile, he assured the public of tolerance to all political parties in the state while denying that the agency gives priority to a particular political party in power.
He noted that the agency has once removed the bill board of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola the gubernatorial candidate of APC and other political parties in the State for not complying with the agency rule which shows that it is not bias in its activities so far.
However, an Osun indigene who lives in Kano Mallam Kadri Mustapha observed that the present Government is tolerant with what he saw in public advertisement in comparing the situation in some other states.
He said, “I can see different posters of aspirants on the wall. I see the one of PDP, APC, ACCORD, ADP, ADC, SDP and others. So, I do not think that government or the agency is bias at all “.
In the same vein, an Osun indigene, who is a medical doctor resident in Katsina, Dr. Oloyede Hakeem also observed that government allows sign post of opposition in the strategic places of the state, which he described as a sign of tolerance.
Meanwhile, members of some political parties who spoke with our correspondent lamented what they described as high rate of charges on bill board.
They said” government taxes are too high and expensive on any bill board mounted in public places in the state”.
They condemned the high rate charges imposed on erection of advertisement boards across the state while urging the agency to look into that angle.
