The Niger State Urban Development Board (NSUDB) says it will soon remove billboards, banners and posters placed across the state without authorisation.

NSUDB General Manager, Hajiya Ahmed who disclosed this to newsmen in Minna on Friday said such billboards and other items defaced the urban centre in the state.

“You will find out that these illegal billboards, banners, posters and signposts deface the beauty of the city.

“Sometimes the materials obstruct traffic because they are erected where they are not supposed to be erected,’’ she said.

Ahmed said that the board had invited political parties and other stakeholders who placed billboards and banners on roads to a meeting over it.

She said establishments and individuals should seek permission before erecting billboards or banners.

“We have agreed that any billboard, banner, poster and signpost placed without the permission of the board is illegal and should be removed,’’ she said.

“We are the regulatory body saddled with the responsibility of controlling such advertisements; they must come to us to get permit,’’ she said

Ahmed said government was trying to give the urban areas a face lift but some political parties and corporate bodies had posed a challenge to it through indiscriminate erection of posters.

He said the board would begin to prosecute individuals and corporate bodies that continued with indiscriminate erection of billboards and banners after sensitising them on the dangers of the act.

The general manager solicited the assistance of security agencies in carrying out its plan.

NAN