[Intl-tobacco] Nigeria: More Controversy On Ban of Tobacco Ads (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

More Controversy On Ban of Tobacco Ads
by Clifford Amuzuo / Vanguard (Lagos)
Source: All-Africa.com, Wednesday, 8/22/01

Outdoor Advertising Practitioners, under the aegis of the Outdoor
Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) has voiced out their opposition
to the recent decision by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria
(APCON) which imposed outright ban on the advertising of tobacco products
across sections of the Nigerian media.

The Association said it is opposed to the section of the APCON statement
on the ban which indicated that the ban is to take effect from January 1,
2002..

The organisation stated that it favours an amendment to the clause to,
instead read "banned with effect from January 2006" and with a gradual
phasing-off of the outdoor advertisements over a period of 5-year span.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos on Monday Vice-President of (OAAN) Chief Ahmed
Omisore stated that the organisation was opposed to the move by APCON due
to what he termed failure on the part of the Council to "tarry and carry
along" its members who are major stakeholders and "the most responsible
sectoral body within the APCON set-up.

He blamed the council for failure to ensure even representation on the
ad-hoc committee that looked at the review of the previous control from
the on-set.

According to him, the aim of APCON as claimed"to stem the rash of
edict/bills at various stages of reading in Legislative Houses" is one
that cannot hold water as the two bills being proposed by the Houses do
not suggest a call for any ban at all."

"It is ironic for APCON headed by seasoned and experienced advertising
practitioners wanting to pre-empt and to now ask for a stiffer regulation
than the bill it's trying to prevent."

He said while the Association was not against the plans to ban tobacco
advertising in the long run, it is opposed to an abrupt and sudden
decision to wipe out a N2 billion work of business from the current
dormant Nigerian economy adding that such loss of revenue giving a
5-months notice would ultimately lead to collapse of business, loss of
jobs and revenue accruable to the local governments moreso at a time when
they are presently crying of receiving zero-allocation from the Federal
Government and are unable to pay staff salaries.