Prohibited & Regulated Campaign Categories Policy (ARCON & Consumer Standards)

1. Purpose & Regulatory Jurisdiction

Kpugi is committed to maintaining a safe, transparent, and legally compliant advertising ecosystem. Commercial campaigns launched on Kpugi must protect Nigerian consumers, uphold cultural sensibilities, and comply with all statutory regulations enforced by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and relevant sector-specific regulators.

This policy details categories of products and services that are strictly barred from the platform, as well as regulated industries requiring pre-campaign documentation.

2. Tier 1: Strictly Prohibited Categories (Zero Tolerance)

Attempting to launch a campaign, upload creatives, or distribute content in any of the following categories will result in immediate campaign suspension, permanent account termination, and forfeiture of all pre-funded escrow deposits:

A. Deceptive Financial Schemes & Unregistered Investments

• Ponzi schemes, multi-level marketing (MLM) pyramid structures, and matrix gifting programs.
• Unregistered cryptocurrency pump-and-dump coins, meme-token presales, and unauthorized initial coin offerings.
• High-Yield Investment Programs (HYIP) promising unrealistic daily or weekly returns.
• Automated Forex trading bots, copy-trading schemes, or signals services lacking SEC authorization.

B. Predatory Digital Lending Apps

• Digital credit platforms operating without valid FCCPC registration and CBN microfinance licensing.
• Loan applications employing unlawful customer defamation, contact list harvesting, or abusive debt collection practices.
• Platforms charging usurious interest rates violating Nigerian lending guidelines.

C. Unlicensed Gambling, Sports Betting & Lotteries

• Online sportsbooks, casino platforms, roulette apps, or lotteries operating without a valid commercial license from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) or recognized state lottery boards.

D. Unregulated Healthcare, Aphrodisiacs & Skin Lightening

• Unregistered traditional herbal mixtures, concoctions, or miracle cures claiming to treat chronic medical conditions.
• Unapproved sexual performance enhancers, potency mixtures, or aphrodisiacs.
• Dangerous skin-lightening or bleaching creams containing hydroquinone, mercury, or banned corticosteroids.
• Prescription-only pharmaceuticals advertised directly to consumers.

E. Counterfeit Goods, Piracy & Academic Cheating

• Replicas, counterfeit designer wear, or knock-off consumer electronics.
• Pirated movies, music downloads, IPTV streams, or cracked software keys.
• Academic essay-writing services, test-impersonation tools, or degree-forging operations.

F. Tobacco, Vaping & Adult Entertainment

• Cigarettes, cigars, electronic vaping devices, and related smoking accessories.
• Pornography, sexually explicit content, dating apps promoting commercial sex, or escort agencies.

3. Tier 2: Regulated Categories (Verification Required Prior to Launch)

Advertisers operating in regulated sectors may launch campaigns on Kpugi only after submitting certified regulatory clearance to Kpugi Compliance:

• FinTech, Digital Banks & WealthTech: Must provide documented proof of authorization from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
• Packaged Food, Beverages & Beauty Products: Must provide an authentic, verifiable NAFDAC Registration Number for all advertised consumer goods.
• Alcoholic Beverages: Strictly restricted to creators with adult audiences. Requires mandatory 18+ age disclosures, a conspicuous "Drink Responsibly" warning, and an official ARCON vetting certificate.
• Political & Public Advocacy Advertising: Must provide formal pre-vetting approval from ARCON prior to brief publication.

4. Mandatory Ad Disclosure Rules for Creators

Pursuant to ARCON standards and fair advertising practices, creators participating in active campaigns must ensure clear consumer notice:

• Include #ad, #sponsored, or #paidpartnership clearly within the first 3 lines of your post caption.
• Turn on the social media platform's native commercial disclosure tool (e.g. TikTok "Paid Partnership" toggle, Instagram "Branded Content" label).
• Presenting a paid commercial endorsement as an unsolicited, organic product review without disclosure is strictly illegal under Nigerian consumer protection law.

5. Violations & Confidential Whistleblowing

If you encounter a campaign brief or creator submission that violates these advertising standards, submit an immediate confidential report via our Support Ticket Portal or email compliance@kpugi.com. Reports are reviewed by our compliance officers within 2 hours.