The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has urged increased monitoring and enforcement of advertising standards in the digital arena, raising concerns over the rise in unethical practices across online platforms.
Speaking at the All Gaming Stakeholders Conference organized by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission in Lagos on Monday, ARCON’s Director-General, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, highlighted the disparity between the regulation of traditional and digital media. “In traditional media, the level of compliance is very high. However, in the digital space, everyone does whatever they like,” he noted.
While praising traditional media for its high compliance, Fadolapo pointed out that online platforms often lack similar oversight, enabling advertisers to bypass regulations more easily.
The call for tighter digital advertising controls follows a recent resolution from Nigeria’s National Assembly, urging ARCON to strengthen its oversight in the digital sector.
Emphasizing the harmful effects of unethical advertising, Fadolapo cited examples of fraud schemes promoted by celebrities on social media. “For instance, in the U.S., Kardashian promoted cryptocurrency. People invested, lost their money, and she was fined $2 million. She was also banned from promoting any products on Instagram for three years,” he said.
Such unregulated practices, he warned, harm citizens and destabilize the economy. “As gatekeepers of advertising, we will not allow these unethical practices to go unchecked,” Fadolapo asserted, adding that ARCON has already taken disciplinary actions against organizations breaching advertising standards.
Fadolapo’s comments underscore ARCON’s ongoing commitment to reforming Nigeria’s digital advertising landscape. As the industry continues to grow, he stressed that stronger regulations will be essential to maintain public trust and safeguard consumers against deceptive schemes.
