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From: Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Newly-appointed consultant for Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA), Mr. Remi Adeniji, has said outdoor advertising in the state would be expanded to ensure that it generates about N840 million revenue for the state every year.
In a chat with journalists, in Ibadan, he noted that the agency currently generates between N20 million and N35 million, adding that the market would be expanded in such a way that outdoor advertising practice in the state would be made easier for the practitioners.
According to him, “I am sure, what my good people of Oyo State are looking for, is value for their money, and the government is doing just that now. You can see roads being expanded, new constructions are going on, developmental projects are being executed. These are evidence of the fact that the government is managing and utilising your money properly.
“I have a target and my own target is a driven target. So, there is no time for me to waste. I must generate in the jurisdiction of N60million to N70million, per month for the state. So, all hands are on deck to make sure this is possible.
“OYSAA has been generating between N20million and N35million. But we have found out that we have not fully utilised the potentials the state has.”
Adeniji, who noted that he was appointed by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to generate more money for OYSAA from payment of fees, billboards, signposts and every inscription that advertises any business, said: “I am only coming in as a consultant, not that Oyo State is just taking off in outdoor advertising. The OYSAA has been in existence for six years.”
He stated that the state has more than 6.8million population, and should have about 130 billable boards that include LED, gantries, and unipoles, across the 33 local government areas of the state, saying more outdoor advertisers would be captured.
Adeniji also emphasised the need for continuous enlightenment of the stakeholders in the industry, saying: “I am aware that sensitisation has taken place very many times and it is continuous. So, we have to continue to educate people on their civic responsibilities in terms of payment of dues and recognising that development of our land has to do a little bit with their contributions, so that you are even more comfortable that you are doing what you should do.
“Then, you will be in position to ask the government to do what it ought to do. So, you have to satisfy your own side of the agreement, that is pay your taxes. One of the taxes you have to pay is if you have an inscription advertising your product, which could be in front of your office, in front of your house, on your vehicle, branding of a house, on the streetlight, and anywhere that we can see that shows what you are doing in a particular place by advertisement, definitely you have a little amount of money to pay to the purse of the government.”
