The governor made this known in a statement issued by Tony Odili Ujubuonu, Managing Director of Anambra Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA).

He stated that other candidates and their parties were also given an ultimatum to pay off any outstanding debts on state posters and billboards.

Ujubuonu stated that the agency was taking steps to clean up the state’s outdoor advertising practises, and that the ultimatum would expire on December 5, 2022, after which enforcement would begin.

The statement reads, “The Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency, through a letter dated 14th November 2022, urged all out-of-home advertising practitioners in the state to revalidate and register all their billboards.

“The agency expected maximum cooperation from the practitioners in terms of registering their billboards and payment of campaigns but are yet to get such.

“As a result of the above, the agency has directed all billboard owners to provide the information required to register each billboard and also pay up for any campaign on them.

“Through this release, the entire political party candidates for the upcoming general elections are urged to make sure those handling their campaigns have made payments to the government to avoid ANSAA defacing their campaign materials.

“The agency has also given a two-week grace to make such payments or face legal enforcement. It has also gotten to the knowledge of the agency that some political party candidates are erecting billboards on their own ignorantly.

“The agency wants to state that this is not only wrong but illegal and any such billboard would be brought down without any notice, the structure seized permanently and auctioned.

“This lasts between the 14th of November and to 5th of December. It’s the wish of the agency that by the 5th of December 2022, all billboards in the state must have been duly registered and paid for, as legal enforcement starts immediately.”