LASAA a ddresses concerns over enforcement actions at Halcyon Court signage

BY GODWIN ANYEBE

The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has responded to recent criticisms regarding its enforcement actions against signage at Halcyon Court on Adeniyi Jones Avenue in Ikeja, Lagos.

Mr. Temitope Akande, Head of Corporate Communication and Strategy, disclosed this in a release by the Agency recently. He said the release was in response to an article in a leading newspaper which raised concerns over signage removal by the officials of the Agency.

Akande clarified that the signage in question was not registered during a recent amnesty programme, which allowed businesses to regularize their advertising structures without penalties.

He noted that the developers failed to utilize this opportunity, leading to non-compliance with LASAA’s regulations as provided in Section 412 of LASAA Enabling Law.

“Firstly, we want to underscore our commitment to fairness and due process in all our enforcement actions. LASAA operates under strict guidelines to ensure compliance with the state’s outdoor advertising regulations, aimed at maintaining a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment for all residents and businesses.

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He stated that despite this leniency of the amnesty programme initiated by the Agency, the developers did not take advantage of the amnesty, deliberately leaving some of its signage unregistered, thus non-compliant with our regulations,” he said.

He also expressed further that investigations revealed that the temporary signs were wilfully underdeclared, violating LASAA’s guidelines as this is clearly an avenue to circumvent the Agency’s process.

Undeclared or underdeclared signage is considered illegal, as it bypasses the necessary assessment and approval processes designed to ensure public safety and regulatory compliance.

In light of these violations, LASAA issued a fine notice to Halcyon Court which remains unpaid until the enforcement exercise commenced. This invariably showcase the inaccurate fact “that Halcyon Court was enforced without notice” as the Organization was notified of its infraction before the enforcement exercise was carried out.

We want to assure the public we remain committed to fostering a collaborative relationship with all stakeholders and are open to dialogue to address any concerns and improve our services.

LASAA aims to create a visually appealing and safe environment that supports the growth of businesses in Lagos State and shall with exemplified vigor, continue to foster a peaceful environment that promotes the excellence of Lagos State.