LAGOS, Nigeria – The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has announced a sweeping directive requiring all influencers and content creators to obtain prior approval for advertisements published on any media platform, including social media.
The directive, issued in a statement on Monday, May 5, 2025, by ARCON Director-General Olalekan Fadolapo, comes amid growing concerns over misleading and exploitative advertising online.
Fadolapo referenced the collapse of the “CBEX Ponzi scheme” as a recent example of how unregulated digital promotions can cause widespread financial harm.
“Such tragedies show the importance of vetting advertising materials for honesty, transparency, and compliance with ethical standards before dissemination,” Fadolapo stated.
He said that all advertising content, regardless of where it is published, must be submitted to ARCON for vetting and approval.
This includes ads promoted by social media influencers, digital content creators, and celebrities.
“Advertisements that misrepresent facts, omit critical information, or are designed to exploit vulnerable audiences will not be tolerated,” he added.
The agency warned that any individual or organisation who fails to comply will be subject to investigation and could face sanctions before the advertising offences tribunal.
To bolster enforcement, ARCON has formed a new compliance task force to monitor digital platforms and flag violators in real-time.
The council also encouraged the public to report advertisements they believe are deceptive or suspicious.
The move follows a recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Lagos, which affirmed ARCON’s authority to regulate all advertising across digital and traditional media channels.
