The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a stern warning to individuals and organizations against promoting unlawful and unverified health advertisements on social media platforms, particularly Instagram and Facebook, owned by Meta Incorporated.
In a statement signed by Olalekan Fadolapo, Director General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the government highlighted the health risks posed by such misleading ads, which often lack scientific validation or certification by relevant authorities.
ARCON revealed that many of these products, advertised with unsubstantiated claims, are not approved by government agencies and may endanger public health. Exploiting the ease of online platforms, advertisers bypass regulatory scrutiny to promote unsafe products.
“These advertisements with exaggerated claims were neither reviewed nor approved by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), as mandated under the ARCON Act No. 23 of 2022,” Fadolapo stated. The ASP is tasked with ensuring all ads meet ethical standards and comply with Nigerian law.
ARCON pledged to enforce sanctions on violators in line with advertising regulations. Last year, the council flagged Jols Medix Nigeria Limited for unauthorized online ads, including a controversial Lung Detox Tea campaign claiming to make smoking healthy. ARCON’s investigation uncovered additional misleading ads on the company’s Instagram page.
The regulatory body reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health by clamping down on unethical advertising practices across digital platforms.
