The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS), generated N806.6 million revenue from signage between 2015 and 2016.
Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, FCT Director, Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage, disclosed this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the achievements of the current administration in the last two years.
According to him, revenue totaling N331, 33 million was generated as income in 2015 and N475, 3 million in 2016, an increase of 41 per cent year on year.
He listed other achievements to include gazetting of Bye-law in concurrence with the six Area Councils for delegation of its control and regulation of the OAS powers to the DOAS.
Others are sensitizing and standardization of outdoor adverts activities in the last two years within FCT through regulations and control.
He said, “Effective reduction of indiscriminate pasting of posters, banners that deface the city architecture, and improved and responsive compliance by corporate organisations and the first party advertisers on payment of bills.
“Continuous reconciliation exercise of about 33 third party practitioners operating in the FCT to commence revenue recovering drive.
“And increased awareness of DOAS activities through aggressive engagement of the media via radio, television and newspaper publications, inclusive management and staff road shows to first party clients and key stakeholders among other achievements.’’
He added that with all the achievements so far, the department encountered some challenges, which included inadequate staff, inadequate working equipment and tools.
Yusuf said other challenges included scarcity of funds to provide relevant/appropriate technical/management training of officers of the department.
The director added that DOAS believed that with the right support and motivation technically and financially, the department could ensure cleaner environment and improved city aesthetics.
“The department can also enhance its revenue generation and instill a more effective outdoor advertisement and signage regulations for the FCT,’’ he said.
He further said that the primary objective of the department was to reposition and strengthen FCT outdoor advertisement and signage system.
“It is also to reorganise, standardise and regulate the business and practice of outdoor advertisement in the territory by curbing the proliferation of illegal and substandard advertisement structures as a vehicle for environment beautification.
“Hence the aspiration for a cleaner and beautiful capital city set the mark for the mission and vision of the department, which is being achieved in concert with our strategic partner and consultant, Messr Afromedia Plc,’’ he added.
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