The Lagos State Government has dismissed reports claiming it increased billboard permit fees to N700m, describing the allegation as false and misleading.
The government explained that billboard advertising in the state is managed by private companies, noting that some premium advertising locations attract monthly charges of about N10m.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, November 15, 2026, by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, in response to social media claims that the alleged fee hike was preventing some political parties from advertising across the state.
The government explained that the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency is responsible for regulating outdoor advertising but neither owns billboard structures nor sets the commercial rates charged by private operators.
“The government of Lagos State wishes to debunk the claim that it has raised billboard permit fee to N700m,” the statement read.
“Billboards are owned by private operators. The most expensive billboard is about N10million monthly. The government does not run billboards.”
The controversy stemmed from remarks by Abdulkarim during an interview on Nigeria Info FM 99.3 on November 13, 2026, in which he claimed that the cost of securing political billboard permits in Lagos was limiting the National Democratic Congress’s ability to advertise in the state.
“Lagos is charging almost N700 million just for a licence to erect a political billboard,” Abdulkarim alleged. He explained that the party had resorted to alternative methods of promoting its political message because of the alleged cost of outdoor advertising.
“We now decided, let us be our own billboard,” he said.
The comments later sparked reactions on social media, with some users suggesting that the alleged high fees accounted for the NDC’s limited presence on billboard advertising spaces across Lagos.
On political advertising, the government stressed that all parties and candidates are free to promote their campaigns, provided they adhere to existing regulations.
It added that campaign materials must be placed on approved advertising structures managed by registered operators with valid permits from LASAA.
The government added that billboard structures must comply with stipulated location, safety and environmental standards.
“LASAA does not determine the rates charged by billboard owners,” the statement added.
It also disclosed that LASAA had recently held public sensitisation programmes on election campaign advertising guidelines to familiarise political parties, candidates and advertising practitioners with the applicable regulations.
