Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency

LASAA to Introduce Skype Video to Strengthen Customer Relations

wp-admin — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:08:40 +0000

After trials spanning over four weeks involving its Human Resources, Client Services and Business Development Departments, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) is set to introduce Skype video-conferencing application as part of the agency’s commitment to excellent customer relations and service delivery. The Skype video application will among other things ensure that response time to enquiries from LASAA stakeholders is quicker and faster thereby making service delivery more effective and efficient. The deployment of the Skype application which will come into effect from Tuesday October 2, 2012, is perhaps the first time such interactive platform is deployed by any regulator in the industry, in African continent. The initiative, described as trail–blazing, has also received commendations from a wide spectrum of LASAA stakeholders.

Skype allows users to communicate with individuals by voice, video, and instant messaging over the Internet. The service has almost 700 million registered users across the world. In Nigeria, it is estimated that over one million persons use the service mainly for personal communication, but LASAA says it will adapt it as part of efforts to improve its relations with its stakeholders including outdoor practitioners, customers, prospects as well as institutions. Commenting on this new initiative, the Managing Director of LASAA, Mr George Noah, said Skype video application demonstrates the agency's commitment to the provision of value-addition services, and raise stakeholders' satisfaction and positive experience of LASAA. ''We are most delighted at the launch of this service because it aligns with our commitment to continuously offer our stakeholders opportunity to connect with us freely. We are convinced that with Skype, engagement at both ends will be quicker and faster'', he said. ‘Our objective is to make every single customer contact a rewarding experience. In addition to Skype we are exploring other social media platforms to make sure we use technology to help us do our job better. We provide services for over 70,000 customers and with it comes expectations of excellent customer service, that is what Skype will also help us achieve’’ he said.

Noah testified that the Skype video application had been well received in a pre-test exercise conducted among randomly picked stakeholders. ''The trials of Skype video which we conducted among some customers were successful and we are happy to announce that we intend to commence the deployment of the service from Tuesday October 2, 2012. We shall commence this service from our head office in Ikeja and extend it to our 22 branch offices in different local councils in the state over a period of time.'' ''As a forward-looking and innovative organisation, we will continue to employ new innovations that can improve service delivery for all our stakeholders'', he stressed. Noah added that part of the sustainability plan for LASAA is a proposed outdoor masterplan which would be unveiled soon. ''Our next move is to commence work on the Lagos State Outdoor Masterplan'', he stated. LASAA has about 400 staff and 22 branch offices in different local councils in the state. The agency recently restructured along product management groups and completed a signage/billboard census where it uncovered over 300 per cent increase in signage not previously on its books and a further 70 per cent increase in billboards not captured on its books.

Temitope Akande
Manager, Corporate Affairs/PR Department
Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency
Alpha Plaza, Central Business District, Obafemi Awolowo Way,
Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos
E-mail- takande@lasaa.com
Tel-07043281292
www.lasaa.com

LASAA Reorganizes along Product Groups For Effectiveness

wp-admin — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:02:47 +0000

In an effort to evolve a more efficient way of discharging its regulatory function, the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has restructured its operations along product management lines similar to best practices by multinational corporations and fast moving consumer product marketing companies.

Speaking on the exercise the Managing Director of the Agency, Mr. George Noah noted that “the initiative is to apply staff to their areas of strength and is geared towards evolving a more efficient way of conducting the Agency’s regulatory function”.

Mr. Noah stated that the product group teams are spread across four main categories of outdoor media including billboards, street furniture, transit and alternative.Mr. Gbolahan Dixon takes charge of Mobile Advertisement which includes coporate vehicles, Lagbus, LAMATA, trucks and taxis.

Mr. Noah further disclosed that Tessy Adeboye will oversee billboards and LASAA’s specification over them. The small formats will be managed by Omorinola Lawal while Anthony Babaniji will handle street furniture which comprises of Bus stop shelters, Lamp poles etc. He concluded that “the last category which is temporary and alternative advertisement including water, night projections, aerial signs, sky signs, water tanks, boat branding and fast track applications to be headed by Bolade Ojaide.

He also used the opportunity to introduce Fines and Penalties as a separate product to be managed by Adewale Aganano, Market branding by Bayo Aluko and Building branding to be handled by Yinka Adegboyega. It is expected that this new direction (the first of its kind in a government agency) will accelerate LASAA’s growth and position it for better service delivery.

Signed:Temitope Akande
Manager Corporate Affairs/PR Department
E-mail- takande@lasaa-ng.com,
Tel-0704328129

LASAA raises alarm on destruction of street direction signs

wp-admin — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:36:08 +0000

24th August, 2012

LASAA RAISES ALARM ON DESTRUCTION OF STREET DIRECTION SIGNS

The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has expressed deep concern over the recent increase in the destruction of already installed Street Directional Signs (SDS) in the State.

Speaking on the issue, the Managing Director of LASAA Mr. George Kayode Noah, expressed sadness over the rate at which the signs are being damaged by motorist and road contractors without any recourse for repairs or replacement.

Mr. Noah stated that ‘‘we are facing serious challenges from vehicle owners and Contractors who constantly damaged these signs. As at the last count, our Agency has received request for repairs and replacements for over 240 street name signs which had previously been installed in the State and this cost has extra financial implications for our Agency’’.

He added that ‘’one of the issues regarding completion of the project include resistance from residents to street name change even when the Local Government has approved it’’. Noah called on the residents where the projects are situated to be more responsible and protect the signs as they have become theirs.

He concluded that ‘’for the project to achieve the desired success, residents must play an active role by co- operating with us in sustaining the project. They must ensure that vandals are apprehended and prosecuted’’.

It will be recalled that the street directional sign is the flagship of the Agency’s project which commenced in 2008 across the State to assist members of the public in finding their way around the city.

Signed:
Temitope Akande
Head ,Corporate Affairs/PR

LASAA clamps down on Posters for Local Government

wp-admin — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:25:50 +0000

LASAA to clamp down on pasting of political posters For Local Government elections

Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA) says it will continue to pursue the existing zero tolerance policy concerning the indiscriminate use of posters in the state, including for electioneering purposes. In a statement issued today, the agency emphasized that this notification should serve as a reminder to all political parties, political aspirants, their campaign team and numerous supporters in the forthcoming Local Government election to refrain from the indiscriminate use of posters in Lagos State.

‘’Early this year LASAA issued a public statement to all local government aspirants as well as other members of the public involved in the act of pasting of posters, to desist immediately’’ the new Managing Director of the agency, George Noah said in the statement.

‘’Despite our several appeals and warnings, we have noticed an increasing trend in this ignoble act.

To this end, we wish to restate our commitment to our earlier directive to the effect that posters will not be allowed within unauthorized places. These are highstreets, highways, major roads, loops bridges, pillars and triangulars. LASAA has commenced the arrest of persons/offenders found pasting posters in the State. Posters are only allowed within designated zones namely: walls of public schools, public hospitals and stadia. The guidelines published by the Agency before the last general elections of April 2011 still subsists. We wish to re-emphasize our preparedness to collaborate with all political parties, politicians, campaigners and supporters in achieving a smooth electoral exercise’’.

Signed:
Temitope Akande
Corporate Affairs/PR

LASAA briefs Lagos Assembly, appoints Deputy Managing Director

wp-admin — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:22:46 +0000

LASAA briefs House of Assembly on preparation for rains as Olumide Sogunle becomes Deputy Managing Director

Ahead of this year’s rain which will commence any time soon, the Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency has intensify efforts to identify defective outdoor structures that might constitute harm to the life and property of Lagosians.

The Managing Director, George K. Noah, made this disclosure whilst briefing members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on the Agency’s plan of action for the year and its preparedness for the rains during a plenary session.

It will be recalled that the February 13 rainstorm in the state destroyed several billboards, especially those that were not LASAA compliant. In fact, 28 out of the 36 structures damaged by the storm were within military formations.

But briefing the lawmakers, the MD assured that the Agency is taking proactive steps to avoid a recurrence of the damage caused by the storm. One of the steps being taken is to continue to dialogue with the military on the need to regularize structures within their formations to forestall future mishaps.

Mr. Noah also informed the legislators that ‘‘our Agency is reviewing the materials for street lamp pole advertisements in order to ensure the safety of citizens’’. He stated that the new technical specifications for the advertisements will soon be unveiled to practitioners and that aluminum and metallic frames will be removed from areas of high wind pressure. Such areas include the Third Mainland Bridge and Ahmadu Bello Way.

The Managing Director also touched on the maintenance of structures on Federal roads in his presentation. He disclosed that ‘‘the Agency will continue to dialogue with the Federal Government on the importance of transferring the maintenance and operation of the lamp posts to the Lagos State Government’’, noting that this will ensure their proper maintenance.

Responding, the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Kolawole Taiwo, advised the Agency to make sure it collaborates with other parastatals of the State government to have a clean and beautiful Lagos.

On another note LASAA has confirmed the appointment of Mr Olumide Michael Sogunle as the Deputy Managing Director of the Agency. A 1991 English graduate of Lagos State University, Sogunle is the pioneer Deputy Managing Director of the Agency. He joined LASAA as the Head of Monitoring & Inspection and later became Assistant General Manager, Registry before his present appointment which takes immediate effect.

Prior to his joining LASAA, Sogunle had gained experience in the Banking Industry as Business Development Manager, Dopemu Branch; Manager, Institutional Banking and Senior Corporate Affairs Officer all in Skye Bank Plc (formerly Eko International Bank)
Sogunle holds a Masters degree in Marketing, bachelor’s degree in English Language and a professional diploma in Journalism. He had practical work experience at radio Lagos as a Sub-editor, Reporter and presenter. The newly appointed Deputy Managing Director has attended many courses home and abroad.

Signed:
Temitope Akande
Head, Corporate Affairs /PR

23rd March, 2012