Oyo Govt deploys technology to stop losses in adverts, signage

Oyo State Government says it has put in place arrangement to block annual leakages of over one billion Naira signage and advertisement through the use of technology.

Mr Temi Adibi, the Director-General, Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency(OYSAA), made this known on Wednesday at a stakeholders' forum in Ibadan.

Supreme reports that the stakeholders' forum was aimed at discussing the outlook and road map to third party operations in the state.

Adibi, represented by Mr Tunji Okanlawon, the OYSAA Director of Administration and Supply, said the forum was aimed at creating a new road map to block leakages in the sector.

He said that there was need for re-certification, revalidation, reconciliation and deregistration through operation know your customers to be supported by Geographic Information System (GIS) solutions.

Adibi enjoined the stakeholders to support the state government by ensuring regular and prompt payment of dues, adherence to rules and regulations, as well as the new road map.

Also, Mr Olufemi Awakan, the Director-General, Oyo State Internal Revenue Services, said it was unfortunate that stakeholders were not cooperating in spite of the effort of the state government.

Awakan said that Gov. Seyi Makinde had done a lot in providing conducive environment and ease of doing business, adding that OYSAA data still revealed over a billion naira losses annually.

Also, Mr Tunde Adaramaja, the Managing Director, ITC Advisory Consult, said that OYSAA could do better than it was doing now.

Adaramaja, a Consultant to the state government, said it was observed that the third party, as a source of revenue to government, was performing below expectations.

He said their mission was to sanitise the space and provide the required strategy to get it right.

"We are partnering OYSAA to ensure that the space is sanitised.

"The last time we checked the data of OYSAA, we noted that more than a billion naira is still being owed.

"We are going to ensure that the money is recovered. We have also engage the services of BPLAN Advisory Services toward achieving the objective," he said.

Also, Mr Yomi Owojori, the Managing Director, BPLAN Advisory Services, said that the company aimed at achieving the set target through technology.

Owojori said that the technology to be used would give them opportunity to know what operates without going about on the field.

He said they observed that there were many practitioners who operates in the state from Lagos, but were not paying tax in Oyo State.