The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has launched an investigation into a petition filed against 9mobile, over an alleged unpaid advertising debt amounting to ₦1 billion.
In a statement released on Friday, ARCON said the petition was submitted by advertising agencies accusing Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited — which operates as 9mobile — of failing to pay for services previously rendered.
The petition also alleged that 9mobile continues to engage new agencies without settling its outstanding obligations.
The regulatory body described this alleged behavior as a possible breach of the Nigerian advertising code, warning that it could negatively affect the broader industry.
“It was also alleged that while 9mobile refused to pay or resolve its indebtedness to the agencies, it has gone ahead to brief other agencies to continue its advertising and advertisement business with impunity,” the statement read.
ARCON stated that its investigation would examine whether 9mobile properly followed disengagement protocols during its transition from the owed agencies to new ones, and whether any ethical standards were breached in the process.
“They belong mostly to media houses and third-party vendors/suppliers who are significantly affected by the indebtedness, with multiplier effects on their cash flow and operations.”
The council also said it would work with anti-graft and government agencies to ensure a comprehensive investigation and resolution of the debt, emphasizing that the issue “borders on economic sabotage.”
Reaffirming its regulatory stance, ARCON reminded stakeholders that the official payment threshold within Nigeria’s advertising industry remains 45 days. It vowed to take decisive action against practices that promote unethical competition and create unfair advantages.
“The council will take all necessary actions to eradicate unethical competition and ensure compliance with the Advertising Industry Standard of Practice (AISOP), including adherence to the 45-day credit policy,”the statement added.
9mobile is a registered member of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), whose members are expected to uphold all industry regulations and honor contractual agreements.
As of the time of this report, 9mobile had not issued any official statement in response to the allegations.
It is worth noting that on March 22, 9mobile had publicly denied rumors regarding a potential shutdown of its operations in Nigeria.
