At a time when Nigerian investors should be looking for ways to stimulate the ailing economy, our politicians are lavishing their ill-gotten wealth on foreign media to perpetuate themselves in office. It has been reported by The Cable that CNN is rejecting all political advertisements from Nigeria. Seriously, do they need CNN or anybody to tell them that their behaviour is harming the Nigerian economy?
This is good news for the Nigerian as these payments (about 5 million Naira per second) will now be channeled to the local economy and at least, some jobs will be created as a result of the CNN policy.
The sad part of this is that these politicians are still shocked about the CNN position.
“We approached CNN agents in Nigeria to place some adverts for our principal. We sent the creatives to them as requested and they returned them, saying they do not run commercials that are intended to campaign for votes. We could not believe it,”
With the 2015 elections drawing close, several politicians are shocked that the American international cable channel, which is one of the favourites in Nigeria, has been turning down commercials with overt political messages.
Nigerian companies can be excused in this instance as they might want to expose their product or service to the international market. The real problem lies with the politicians that are running political ads in foreign media, in most cases on public/tax payer’s purse.
“Nigerian companies and politicians typically value the prestige above the economic cost.” Nigerians have seen this kind of scenario over and over, this has to stop. When will these politicians start listening to the people that they are supposed to serve and give account to?
Nigerian companies and various state governments have been reportedly spent billions of naira every year advertising in foreign media such as The Economist, Financial Times of London, CNN International and SuperSport. One can only imagine the effect if those billions are invested in the local economy, this is a no-brainer. When will our leaders wake up and behave like actual leaders?
CNN Clarification
Ashley Hogan-Gancarz, the account manager of CNN International, reported: “CNN International never accepted political or religious advertising. This is due to Ofcom regulations. If you want to promote investment opportunities, etc. that would be fine but nothing to do with politics or the 2015 election.”
Ofcom is the regulator of the broadcast industry in the UK, from where CNN International oversees its African operations.
