In a sweeping move to rein in deceptive advertising in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital space, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has announced that all influencers and content creators must now obtain prior approval before publishing any form of advertisement.
The directive was disclosed in a statement on Monday, signed by ARCON’s Director-General, Olalekan Fadolapo, who raised alarm over the increasing spread of misleading and unverified advertisements, especially on social media platforms.
Fadolapo pointed to the recent CBEX ponzi scheme scandal as a stark example of the dangers posed by unchecked promotional content. “Such tragedies show the importance of vetting advertising materials for honesty, transparency, and compliance with ethical standards before dissemination,” the statement read.
He stressed that all advertising—regardless of medium—must pass through ARCON’s vetting process. “Advertisements that misrepresent facts, omit critical information, or exploit vulnerable audiences will not be tolerated,” he warned.
Reaffirming the Council’s oversight over digital content, ARCON emphasized that social media influencers, celebrities, and online marketers fall squarely under its jurisdiction.
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Any promotional content they share must be pre-approved or risk breaching advertising laws.
To ensure compliance, ARCON has launched a dedicated monitoring task force and warned that violators will be investigated and may face sanctions from the advertising offences tribunal.
“We urge members of the public to report any suspicious or deceptive ads. Public safety and trust are paramount,” the statement added.
As digital advertising surges in popularity—fueled by Nigeria’s vibrant influencer culture—the council says it is determined to maintain ethical standards and protect consumers from manipulation and fraud.