The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has kicked against unapproved and offensive advertisements released by Bokku Supermarket, which purportedly promoted ethnic slur.
Conveying its displeasure in a press statement,Director-General of ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, said the regulatory agency revealed that it will be taking steps against the advertisers, agencies, and platform owners involved in disseminating the offensive Bokku Supermarket campaign or any other unapproved advertisement:
“ARCON will take all necessary steps, including sanctions and legal redress, to enforce compliance,” the statement read.
The body emphasized that no advertisement is permitted for public exposure in Nigeria without prior approval from the ASP, which ensures all materials are truthful, decent, legal, and socially responsible.
The regulatory body described the advertisements as “unlawful, divisive, and contrary to Nigeria’s national values.”
According to ARCON, the promotional materials in question instigated ethnic and sectional prejudices, denigrating a section of Nigeria’s population and bringing them into public contempt and ridicule, an act that the apex advertising regulatory body says violates the Federal Government’s policy on national unity and peaceful coexistence.
It disclosed that the controversial advertisements were not submitted for vetting or approval by its Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), as required by Nigerian advertising laws.
“These advertisements were neither vetted nor approved for exposure,” Dr. Fadolapo stated. “They clearly breach the ethical standards of practice and pose a serious threat to social harmony.”
ARCON announced that it has activated a special monitoring and enforcement task force mandated to track all unapproved advertisements across print, broadcast, outdoor, and digital media platforms.
It explained that the development underscores its increasing vigilance in policing Nigeria’s advertising space, particularly in the digital and social media ecosystem, where unvetted ads often escape regulatory scrutiny
