The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), has insisted on the continuity of its lawful business of removing illegal posters within the metropolis.
According to LASAA, its activities had been non-selective; adding that its statutory responsibility of removing materials indiscriminately placed at unauthorized places in the state could not be compromised.
The Managing Director of LASAA, Mr. George Noah, said this yesterday while reacting to the order by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, who said that policemen will arrest employees of the agency that attempted to remove any billboard or poster of candidates of political parties.
The LASAA boss warned that since removal of posters that defaced the environment was a statutory obligation of LASAA, it would be unlawful for the police to arrest any LASSA employee for carrying out their lawful duty.
Noah said the agency had published guidelines for deploying electoral materials in four national dailies in addition to a town-hall meeting it had with all the political parties.
He said, “Let me state clearly that the removal of posters that deface our environment is a statutory obligation of LASAA. The agency is therefore baffled that the police responsible for enforcing the laws of this nation is encouraging and expressly supporting the flagrant disregard and contravention of environmental guidelines issued to all political parties.”
Noah said he had on Monday held a meeting that lasted about 15 minutes with the CP, adding that in spite of the cordial discussion, he was surprised at the tone of the CP’s press conference where he categorically threatened to arrest the agency’s staff.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police and I had a very cordial discussion and I tried to explain to him how we operate, but since their statement has been predesigned, it did not matter what we discussed.”
Noah revealed that over 100,000 political posters were illegally deployed in the state on a daily basis, adding that removal of these materials had been based on fairness and equality.
“Our guidelines have been issued without prejudice to any individual, political party, association or aspirant and our intention is to ensure fairness and equality among all concerned stakeholders, while judiciously preserving the integrity of our environment and applying the rules without sentiment or bias.”
He said there 727 billboards were approved by LASAA in the state out of which the agency owns just 26 for creating awareness for the state government.
He urged politicians to be more creative in the way they go about creating awareness.
Recall that the state Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Aderanti, gave warning to LASAA officers on Monday at a press briefing to intimate Lagosians on the vigilance of the police for the forthcoming elections.
