Imo Advertisement Agency Replies Advert Practitioners, Debunks Alleged Multiple Taxation, Extortion, Unwarranted Destruction of Billboards

ThankGod Emeh, Owerri.

The Management of Imo Signage and Advertisement Agency, lMSAA Wednesday, July 8, 2020 said its attention is drawn to some unfounded contents in news making rounds in the media of an interface between the Special Adviser (SA) to the State Governor on Signage and Advertisement, Dr. (Mrs.) Nina Nwulu and Imo Outdoor Advertising Practitioners (IMOP) recently in the state.

The Imo Advertisement Agency in a press release issued by the Director of Administration, Michael Onuoha stressed that the Imo Advertising Practitioners in the courtesy visit to the SA did not fully reflect the true position of things between the association and the agency amid allegations of extortion, multiple taxation among others hence their rejolinder.

According to the release, “The attention of the Management of Imo Signage and Advertisement Agency (lMSAA) has been drawn to news reports in some media publications, which focused on the courtesy visit of an Owerri-based association called Imo Outdoor Advertising Practitioners (IMOP) to our esteemed Special Adviser (SA) to the Imo State Governor on Signage and Advertisement, Dr. (Mrs.) Nina Nwulu, reportedly on Saturday July 4, 2020.”

“It was reported that during the courtesy visit, the Chairman of IMOP, Mr. Edwin Emebode called on the Imo State Governor, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma to establish a body that would regulate and streamline outdoor advertising in the state. He also reportedly decried alleged extortion, multiple taxation, and unwarranted destruction of billboards by several government agencies in the state while calling for established guidelines for billboard placement and payment of fees to avoid extortion of the association’s members”

The Management of the state Advertisement Agency said it wouldn’t want to Join issues with IMOP on the misinforming content of the news reports in question, but owe it as an essential duty to the public to set the records straight on some of the key issues raised by IMOP.

“We believe it is mischievous for the Chairman of IMOP to call on the Imo State Government to establish a parallel body to ‘regulate and streamline’ outdoor advertising in the state.

IMSAA said lMOP cannot claim ignorance of the existence of Imo Signage and Advertisement Agency (lMSAA), an Agency established by Imo State Law No.36 of 2019, as the ONLY agency in Imo State to control and regulate billboards and other outdoor advertising structures and signages in the state.

“On December 17, 2019 shortly after the law establishing lMSAA was signed, the Agency held a Stakeholders’ Forum at Rockview Hotel, Owerri at which IMOP was fully represented. During the forum, lMSAA unveiled its vision and mission to the generality of stakeholders, including lMOP.”

The Imo Advertisement Agency expressed surprise ovet what the intention of IMOP is, decrying that their actions can undermine IMSAA and the high level of professionalism and accountability that have been the Agency’s hallmark since inception.

IMSAA added that since the stakeholder forum was held, IMSAA had been In communication with Imo Outdoor Advertising Practitioners and her members for them to register with the Agency.

The Agency noted that the schedule of approved fees was also made available to them and “It is on record that some members of IMOP have already registered with IMSAA”

“Does IMOP want a return to the era of mediocrity and lack of transparency that had hitherto dogged the control and regulation of placement of billboards and other outdoor advertising structures and signages in the state?”, IMSAA enquired.

The State Advert Agency however denied knowledge of the alleged extortion, multiple taxation, and unwarranted destruction of billboards by several government agencies as captured by Imo Advertising Practitioners stressing that staff of the agency has been diligent in their functions and have not engaged services of agents.

“On the allegation of extortion, multiple taxation, and unwarranted destruction of billboards by several government agencies in the state, we sympathise with iMOP. But we want to state that since IMSAA was established, we have never engaged the services of any revenue agent or consultant to harass people neither has the Agency collected revenue in cash”

“Nevertheless, IMSAA is aware of infractions on the Agency’s functions by some agencies of government. The Agency is dealing with this through various administrative organs of government. IMSAA is committed to and fully keyed into the 3R policy trust and ease of doing business of the government of His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma and cannot be distracted from it”

The Agency while responding to IMOP’s request for a laid down rules said the guidelines and standards for billboard placements is on the agency’s website and call on advertising practitioners to always visit www.imostatesignage.com or contact the Director of Administration on 07086459487 for more information.

“IMOP’s call for guidelines and standards for billboard placements is in bad faith as the association is very much aware that IMSAA has these properly domiciled, even on the Agency’s website”

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