ARCON orders influencers, content creators to seek approval before publishing advertisements

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON, has directed all social media influencers and content creators to obtain prior approval before publishing any advertisements.

This directive was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the council’s Director-General, Olalekan Fadolapo, who raised alarm over the growing spread of misleading and unregulated advertisements, particularly on digital platforms.

Fadolapo referenced the recent CBEX Ponzi scheme scandal as a clear example of the harm deceptive advertising can cause, stressing that the incident underscores the urgent need for stricter oversight and compliance in the digital advertising space.

“Such tragedies show the importance of vetting advertising materials for honesty, transparency, and compliance with ethical standards before dissemination,” the statement read.

He emphasized that it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure that every advertisement, irrespective of the platform on which it is to be published, receives proper vetting and approval from ARCON before it is released to the public.

“Advertisements that misrepresent facts, omit critical information, or are designed to exploit vulnerable audiences will not be tolerated,” Fadolapo added.

ARCON further reiterated that social media platforms are within its scope of regulation, making it mandatory for influencers and content creators to secure approval before publishing any advertisement.

The council issued a stern warning that anyone found promoting unapproved content will be subject to investigation and could face penalties through the Advertising Offences Tribunal.

To bolster compliance, ARCON’s Director-General announced the creation of a dedicated task force responsible for monitoring advertisements across all media channels and promptly flagging any violations.

“We urge the public to also support this initiative by reporting any advertisement that appears deceptive or suspicious,” the council said.

In April, the Federal High Court in Lagos affirmed ARCON’s authority to regulate advertising activities on all forms of media, including digital and social media platforms.