New Rules for Online Ads: FG Orders Influencers to Secure Approvals

The federal government has announced new regulations requiring content creators and social media influencers in Nigeria to obtain approval before running advertisements on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), in a statement released Monday, said the measure was necessary to curb the spread of misleading and deceptive advertisements that have contributed to financial losses for many Nigerians.

Director-General of ARCON, Olalekan Fadolapo, emphasized that the agency would no longer tolerate unethical advertising practices that compromise public trust. He cited the recent collapse of the CBEX scheme, which trapped the funds of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, as a clear example of the risks posed by unregulated digital ads.

ARCON has established a compliance task force to enforce the new directive and monitor ads across all digital platforms. Influencers and creators must now submit all promotional materials for vetting and approval prior to publication.

Fadolapo called on the public to report suspicious or misleading ads, warning that any advertising that misrepresents facts or targets vulnerable populations will attract legal sanctions.

In support of the directive, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also warned celebrities, influencers, and bloggers against promoting unregistered investment schemes. SEC’s Director-General, Emomotimi Agama, disclosed that violators could face prosecution, including possible imprisonment.

The development is part of a broader government effort to sanitize the digital advertising ecosystem and prevent the exploitation of the public through fraudulent promotional campaigns.