The Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency has fixed a mandatory N150 million permit fee for political parties and candidates intending to advertise during the 2026 local government elections and the 2027 general elections in the state.
The General Manager of the agency, Mr Francis Aninwike, disclosed the development during a management meeting at the agency’s headquarters in Enugu.
According to a statement from the media office of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the directive aligns with the agency’s statutory responsibility to regulate outdoor advertising and maintain environmental standards across the 17 local government areas.
Aninwike explained that the N150m permit would authorise political parties and candidates to deploy campaign materials such as billboards, banners, branded vehicles, T-shirts and handbills, as well as organise rallies and street campaigns.
He stated that no political party or candidate would be allowed to mount or display any form of visual campaign material without first obtaining approval from the agency and paying the prescribed fee into the Enugu State Government account.
The agency said the measure is aimed at curbing visual pollution, safeguarding public infrastructure and ensuring professionalism throughout the electioneering period.
Aninwike warned that campaign materials mounted without proper authorisation would be removed, while defaulters could face legal consequences.
He further clarified that only advertising practitioners licensed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria are permitted to manage billboards and related campaign structures within the state.
Individuals, support groups or political organisations are barred from erecting such structures without going through approved ARCON practitioners and securing ENSSAA clearance.
Responding to concerns about impartiality, the agency maintained that the regulation would apply equally to all political actors, including incumbents.
It noted that the governor has previously complied with the state’s advertising rules in his official and political engagements.
The agency also urged party supporters to refrain from vandalising or defacing opponents’ campaign materials, stressing that such actions are unlawful and undermine democratic practice.
