Enugu Sets ₦150 Million Fee for Election Campaigns

The Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA) has introduced a compulsory ₦150m permit for political advertising prior to the 2026 local government and 2027 general elections.

The agency’s General Manager, Francis Aninwike, announced the directive during a management meeting in Enugu, noting that it aligns with the agency’s mandate to regulate outdoor advertising and preserve environmental standards across the state’s 17 local government areas.

He explained that the permit would authorise political parties and candidates to use campaign materials such as banners, branded vehicles, T-shirts, and handbills, as well as conduct rallies and street campaigns. 

The directive requires all parties to obtain approval before deploying any visual or outdoor campaign content, with the fee payable to the state government.

The statement read in part, “Every political party and candidate must obtain a campaign permit from ENSSAA before deploying any form of visual campaign or outdoor promotional materials. The statutory fee for the permit is ₦150m, payable to the Enugu State Government account.”

Aninwike said the measure is intended to curb visual pollution, safeguard public infrastructure, and ensure professionalism during the election period. 

He warned that non-compliance could lead to the removal of campaign materials and possible legal action.

He also clarified that only advertising professionals licensed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) are permitted to handle billboards and campaign structures within the state, stressing that no group or individual can erect such materials without the approval of an approved practitioner.

Responding to concerns about fairness, Aninwike maintained that the rules would be applied equally to all candidates, including those currently in office, adding that Governor Peter Mbah has consistently adhered to existing advertising regulations.

The agency further cautioned political supporters against defacing opponents’ campaign materials, warning that such actions are unlawful and undermine democratic principles.