Leading telecoms firm, Globacom has terminated a multi-million naira outdoor advertising deal with a Lagos-based outdoor advertising firm Clearedge Limited due to imposition of campaign posters belonging to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on street lamp poles paid for by Globacom.
Clearedge, one of the leading outdoor firms based in Lagos, had secured the street lamp-poles on the 22 mile long Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, on behalf of Globacom after paying the mandatory regulatory fees to Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency (LASAA). In addition, the outdoor firm had also paid the Federal Ministry of Works being the owners of the bridge.
Informed sources said officials of Globacom had complained to Clearedge after noticing the deployment of PDP materials on the same pole it had paid for. Globacom reportedly pulled the plug on the deal in order not to be associated with the brand of any political party. An official of Globacom who spoke on condition of anonymity said ‘’the deployment of PDP items on poles portraying our brand is unacceptable, illegal and unfortunate’’ adding ‘’We are all aware that election is around the corner, and as much as campaign is part of electioneering process, it should not be used to infringe on the business of companies or individuals. The deployment of campaign items by any political party should be done following the proper channel and in this case the PDP had illegally posted adverts on poles we have paid for’’.
On Monday another multi-national telecoms giant Huawei cancelled its outdoor campaign with another Lagos based agency Touchpoint Limited over the deployment of PDP campaign items on poles it had paid for. Outdoor agencies have denounced the illegal deployment of campaign materials on poles they had paid for.