FCTA to recoup over N3 bn from advertising , others

The Federal Capital Territory Administration in Nigeria said it is set to recoup over N3billion annually through the Department Outdoor Advertising and Signage ( DOAS).

The Deputy Director of DOAS, Mr. Hassan Abubakar, disclosed this to journalists during a tour of some shopping malls and sign poles within the territory late on Thursday.

Abubakar noted that the revenue generating project was initiated to cub the disorderly manner in handling the outdoor advertisement system in the FCT.

He explained that with the public compliance in tax payment, the administration, through the Outdoor Advertisement and Signage System has the capacity to hit the target annually.

While lamenting on the illegal mounting of billboards and signage in some strategy positions within the city, Abubakar stressed that such act is capable of defacing the right of ways and streets of the territory , which is most lacking in aesthetics.

According to him, the immediate consequences of these were severe dangers to the environment, traffic and pedestrians.

“Long range visibility was impaired with resultant accidents at major junctions due to sight blockages by billboards and outdoor advertisement posts.

‘Painfully, we found that the existing administrative structure charged with the duty of regulating these practices was weak and in some cases there were multiple standards as well as conflicting administering agencies,” he added

He said that the development was unacceptable for a capital city that aspired to join the ranks of the best 20 capital cities in the world by the year 2020, adding that the administration was therefore set to arrest the ugly trend from degenerating.

The Deputy Director also noted that the mandate given to the body was to provide a standard template for the control and regulation of advertisement and signage practice in FCT by ensuring global best practice, improving internal revenue and stemming the observed chaos.

He expressed delight for the collaboration of all stakeholders, especially the six area councils and the FCT business community, adding that the chairmen of the area councils had shown high level of cooperation to the FCT Administration throughout the conceptualization of the project.

Abubakar further warned that, staff of the department must be honest, diligent and resourceful as the administration would not condone any act that ran contrary to the good intentions for setting up this department.