Nigeria inaugurates Advertising Offences Tribunal

The Nigeria inaugurated the newly constituted Advertising Offences Tribunal on Tuesday in Abuja. The tribunal, established under the Nigeria — Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) Act No. 23 of 2022, is tasked with adjudicating offences under the Act and relevant advertising regulations and codes. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, presided over the inauguration, urging the tribunal to act with integrity, independence, and fairness. The tribunal is chaired by Justice Cecilia Olatoregun, with members including Musa Ahmed Attah, Merga Tyowanan Kachina, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, and Ibrahim. ARCON Director-General Lekan Fadolapo described the tribunal as the first of its kind globally, highlighting Nigeria's proactive approach to advertising regulation. The inauguration follows ARCON's recent implementation of mandatory vetting for social media advertisements and requirements for influencers and digital content creators to obtain regulatory approval. The tribunal aims to strengthen regulation, promote professionalism, and ensure greater integrity in Nigeria's advertising and marketing communications industry.