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FCT Minister dismisses opposition complaints over rising billboard advertising costs ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that politics is expensive worldwide.
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Says increased billboard charges are part of the administration’s revenue drive and not designed to frustrate opposition parties.
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Argues that billboards do not win elections, urging political parties to leverage social media to reach voters.
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Challenges opposition parties alleging discrimination to formally lodge complaints, insisting that nobody has approached him over the issue.
November 05, (THEWILL) – Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended the rising cost of billboard advertising in Abuja, insisting that the charges are part of the administration’s revenue generation drive, while advising opposition parties to explore social media platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike, who spoke during his monthly media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, dismissed concerns that the increasing cost of securing prominent billboard spaces in the nation’s capital could undermine the ability of opposition parties to publicise their candidates and campaign messages.
The minister maintained that political campaigns were expensive across the world and argued that parties should not depend exclusively on physical advertising platforms to reach the electorate.
“Politics is expensive all over the world,” he said, adding that political parties could take advantage of their social media platforms to campaign.
His comments followed complaints by opposition parties over the rising cost of billboard spaces in the FCT, with concerns that the charges could place smaller political organisations and candidates with limited financial resources at a disadvantage as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
Abuja remains a strategic location for political advertising because of its status as the nation’s capital and its concentration of political institutions, government officials, party leaders and other influential stakeholders.
Billboards are commonly used by political parties and candidates to promote their programmes, publicise campaign activities and increase visibility during election periods.
Revenue Drive Behind Increased Charges
Explaining the rationale for the increased billboard charges, Wike said the FCT Administration was interested in generating more revenue from advertising spaces, particularly during periods when demand was expected to rise.
He maintained that the administration had a responsibility to maximise revenue from available resources to finance infrastructure and other development projects across the territory.
“We want money. The FCT wants money, and part of us making money is through the billboards to raise our revenue,” he said.
The minister explained that the administration expected increased demand for billboard spaces during the electioneering period and intended to take advantage of the opportunity to boost its revenue.
“If we know that in a given time, people will rush the billboard and authorities feel that we will raise the funds to make more money,” he added.
Wike rejected suggestions that the increased charges were politically motivated or designed to prevent opposition parties from accessing campaign advertising platforms.
He said the revenue generated would be used to provide infrastructure, particularly roads and improved educational facilities.
“The authority did not raise funds against you, because it is you. I am going to use the money to do more roads, to improve the schools,” he said.
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Billboards Do Not Win Elections
The former Rivers State governor also questioned the importance attached to billboard advertising in determining electoral outcomes, arguing that political parties should not rely on the medium as their primary means of winning public support.
He specifically questioned the reach of billboards among voters in rural communities, suggesting that the platform did not necessarily guarantee widespread exposure to campaign messages.
“For Christ’s sake, a billboard does not win an election; how many people in the villages know about the billboard?” he asked.
Wike further argued that political parties were not the only organisations paying substantial amounts for prominent advertising spaces, noting that media organisations also charge for premium advertising slots.
He said the FCT Administration did not determine which political party or individual secured particular billboard locations, explaining that advertisers sometimes made advance payments to reserve preferred spaces.
“People go and pay a year ahead for billboards; how will I know? My business is not going to ask who paid for the billboard; I have no business there,” he said.
Challenges Opposition to Lodge Complaints
Wike also challenged opposition parties alleging discrimination in the allocation or pricing of billboard spaces to formally approach the FCT Administration with their grievances.
He insisted that neither the political parties nor their representatives had brought the complaints directly to him.
“Let them complain to us; no one has complained to us. Nobody has complained to me,” he said.
The minister’s position comes as political parties and prospective candidates begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, with campaign publicity, party mobilisation and voter engagement expected to intensify in the months ahead.
The controversy over billboard charges has brought the cost and accessibility of campaign advertising in Abuja into focus, particularly as opposition parties seek to expand their visibility and communicate their political messages ahead of the next electoral contest.
Wike, however, maintained that the FCT Administration’s interest was revenue generation and infrastructure development, insisting that political parties could utilise alternative platforms, including social media, to reach voters.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
