RISAA warns billboard owners on production stardards, registration

Worried by a recent storm that destroyed some Unipole structures in Port Harcourt and injured people , the Rivers State Signage and Advertisement Agency (RISAA) has warned practitioners and owners of billboards against compromising industry standards during the process of building , constructing and erecting outdoor hoardings.

While regretting the incident, the Acting Managing Director of RISSA, Chukwudi Dimkpa, stated that the owners of the affected structures would face the statutory penalties to serve as a deterrent to others.

He stated that the dismantled fallen structures have been impounded until all costs incurred by the agency were paid by the outdoor owners.Dimkpa reiterated RISAA’s commitment to ensuring safety, sanity, order and professionalism.

Towards this end, he stated that RISAA is embarking on enforcement and removal of illegal structures, dilapidated and fallen billboards so as to rid the state of unauthorized and dangerous ones posing threats to lives and property.

Meanwhile the agency has advised outdoor practitioners and owners of billboard and signage structures who are yet to register with it to do so immediately or face sanctions.According to the agency’s helmsman, every outdoor structure owned by an operator (corporate or non-corporate entity) must be registered by its owner.

Such owners and operators of existing structures shall obtain, complete and submit the prescribed registration form with the agency and apply for the permit, he stressed.

The agency advised practitioners and owners of outdoor signages and billboards that payment for approvals and advertisement fees and levies on signages, billboards, mobile adverts and branded vehicles must be made through RISAA and not to the local government council or their agents.