The Cross River State Signage and Advertising Agency (CRISSA) has warned advertisers that defective billboards risk permanent removal, citing dangerous structural installations across Calabar that could collapse and cause fatalities.
The agency's Director-General, Ubong Sam, said the ongoing enforcement was aimed at protecting lives and property, dismissing claims that the exercise was connected to political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sam said advertising materials promoting Governor Bassey Otu's coffee seedling project had also been affected, alongside commercial advertisements, including Hero Beer.
“This thing has nothing to do with politics, please,” he said.
The agency had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to advertisers to remove materials from defective billboard structures following inspections across the state capital.
Sam cited several dangerous installations, including a double-sided billboard at Goldie, near the Post Office, whose heavy fascia rested directly on its base without adequate adjoining support.
He also identified a billboard around the Filter area with a shallow foundation, warning that the structure could collapse.
Another installation along Mayne Avenue, near a science school, was described as particularly dangerous because high-tension cables rested directly on its metal structure, with tubes serving as improvised insulators close to a metal container.
Sam said the agency had written to the electricity distribution company to provide technical personnel to ensure power disconnection where necessary before work commenced on affected structures.
He also raised concerns about a billboard that collapsed in 2021 during the administration of former Governor Ben Ayade, alleging that its owner re-erected the old metal structure without carrying out a comprehensive refurbishment.
“It lacks structural integrity. That board already is tilting. If you see how shallow the base was, it fell off. That can kill,” he warned.
The CRISSAA chief explained that billboards generally require revalidation after 10 years, while those in harsh environments, including coastal areas exposed to saltwater, strong winds and corrosion, should undergo checks every five years.
He said the process involves structural integrity tests, rewelding of joints, reinforcement, replacement of corroded components and protective coatings.
Sam, however, clarified that not all billboards were due for revalidation, citing an installation belonging to advertiser Zado, which was erected in December 2022.
“I told him, no, it's not due. I told them not to even collect money,” he said.
He maintained that government revenue from billboard advertisements could not be prioritised over public safety, warning that advertisers who failed to repair defective structures after the removal of their materials risked losing their installations permanently.
Sam said he planned to lead a team of structural engineers on a comprehensive audit of billboard locations across Cross River State in the third week of February, after the 2027 elections.
He urged journalists to visit affected locations to assess the dangers, insisting that the agency was not targeting any individual or political group but enforcing safety standards before lives were lost.
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