₦700m Political Billboard Fee? Lagos Government Breaks Silence, Reveals Actual Position

The Lagos State Government has dismissed allegations that it increased political campaign billboard permit fees to ₦700 million ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that it does not own billboard structures or determine the commercial rates charged by advertising operators.

The government explained that billboard advertising in the state is largely controlled by private companies, with some premium advertising spaces reportedly costing approximately ₦10 million per month.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, following claims circulating on social media that the alleged increase was preventing some political parties from advertising their campaigns across Lagos.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the state government described the ₦700 million figure as inaccurate, explaining that the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) is responsible for regulating outdoor advertising rather than determining the commercial prices charged by billboard owners.

“The government of Lagos State wishes to debunk the claim that it has raised billboard permit fee to N700m.

“Billboards are owned by private operators. The most expensive billboard is about N10million monthly. The government does not run billboards,” the statement read.

The controversy followed comments by Abdulkarim during an interview on Nigeria Info FM 99.3 on November 13, 2026, in which he alleged that the cost of obtaining political billboard licences in Lagos was making it difficult for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to promote its campaign.

He claimed that the party had been forced to explore alternative ways of publicising its political message because of the alleged high cost of outdoor advertising.

“Lagos is charging almost N700 million just for a licence to erect a political billboard.

“We now decided, let us be our own billboard,” Abdulkarim alleged.

However, the state government maintained that political parties and candidates are free to advertise across Lagos, provided they comply with the existing outdoor advertising regulations.

It explained that campaign materials must be placed on approved advertising structures operated by registered practitioners with valid LASAA permits.

The government added that such structures must also satisfy established requirements concerning their locations, safety and environmental standards.

Reiterating its position, the state government stressed that LASAA does not determine the commercial rates charged by private billboard operators, distancing itself from the alleged ₦700 million fee.