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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Nigeria’s apex advertising regulatory body, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), has filed a suit against Meta Platforms Incorporated (owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms) and its agent AT3 Resources Limited.
In the suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja, the Federal Government’s agency, described as illegal the exposure of various adverts on Meta platforms targeting Nigerian market without vetting and approval.
ARCON said the action is illegal, unlawful and a violation of the extant advertising Law in Nigeria.
The agency, in a statement released on Tuesday, argued that Federal Government has lost revenue as a result of non-vetting of adverts targeting Nigerian market on Meta Platforms.
Consequently, ARCON is seeking N30 billion penalty for the violation.
“ARCON reiterates that it would not permit unethical and irresponsible advertising on the Nigeria’s advertising space,” it stated.