Electric fence around Tinubu, Bago billboard sparks reactions

Nigerians on X have expressed mixed reactions after a viral video showed an electric fence installed around a large billboard bearing the images of President Bola Tinubu and Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago.

The installation has sparked debate over the need to protect political billboards from vandalism, with some users questioning the government’s popularity and others blaming opposition supporters for allegedly targeting campaign materials.

An X user, Dare-tomo, questioned the purpose of displaying the billboard if it had to be protected from the very people it was meant to reach.

“But has this not defeated the purpose for which the billboard should be up there? If you have to protect it from the people you’re showing the billboard to?” he wrote.

However, another user, Tosyn, defended the measure, blaming what he described as the opposition’s resort to vandalising campaign materials.

“That’s how bad the opposition has become. They have no better alternative than to resort to vandalising campaign posters,” he said.

Emmanuel, on the other hand, argued that a government confident in its performance should not need extraordinary measures to protect its public image.

“If you are doing well, you shouldn’t be scared that people would remove your billboard. You had four years to work, make people love you, instead, you’re now forcing yourself on them,” he wrote.

He added that effective governance should serve as the strongest form of political publicity.

Felix also questioned the apparent priority given to protecting political displays, suggesting that similar attention was not devoted to providing social amenities.

“But social amenities are not perfected like this cause they want it destroyed & get allocation for it,” he wrote.

Abiola Oshodi interpreted the installation of the electric fence as a sign of declining public support for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

“If u need an electric fence to protect a billboard of the President and a Governor, it tells u everything u need to know about their legitimacy,” he said.

He also criticised the administration’s policies, arguing that protecting the billboard would not change public opinion about the government.

Omowumi Abiodun similarly criticised the move, arguing that the unusual security measure could provoke further negative reactions rather than improve the government’s public image.

“Psychologically, this act will further create awareness to the unknown of how terrible this government is, thereby creating more hatred for them,” she wrote.

She added that the billboard could attract sympathy if vandalised, suggesting that the protective measure might have unintended political consequences.

The circumstances surrounding the installation of the electric fence remain unclear, as no official statement from the ruling party has been provided regarding the matter.