The Enugu State Structure for Signage Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA) says it is now illegal for any person or group to erect billboards and structures for signage in the state without approval from the agency.

General Manager of ENSSAA, Ike Ezugwu, said that the law establishing the agency said licences and permits must be issued to individuals and organisations for the construction and placement of outdoor structures in any part of the state.

“So it is unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge and operate outdoor structures without first being registered with the agency.

“And once we identify those without approval, we will remove them and the owner will bear the cost of removing them.

“It is our responsibility to control, regulate and monitor them.

“By licensing them, we have them in our database,” Mr Ezugwu said on Sunday.

He stressed that the environment would be littered with illegal billboards if the agency stops regulating and controlling them.

The general manager explained that the agency was unable to cover all the 27 local government areas in the state due to insufficient manpower but maintained that they are gradually making progress.

He, therefore, urged billboard owners in the state to register with the agency, stating that what they pay forms part of the government’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).