Business
Save the Consumers Condemns MultiChoice’s Price Discriminations Between Nigerian and South African Subscribers
South African subscribers benefit from reduced pricing, such as the “Add Movies” bolt-on slashed by 38% to R49, alongside additional channels and enhanced streaming features.
Save the Consumers, a Nigerian non-governmental organisation committed to defending consumer rights, strongly condemns the recent 21 percent price increase imposed by MultiChoice Nigeria on its DStv and GOtv services.
In a comparisons of the subscriptions price being paid by subscribers in Nigeria and South Africa, Save the Consumers, juxtaposed that the MultiChoice’s price adjustments in Nigeria was in stark contrast to the company’s decision to reduce prices by up to 38% and enhance value for its South African subscribers during the same period.
Dr. Aliyu Ilias , the Executive Director of Save the Consumers, argued that the action was not only insensitive and exploitative, but also blatantly discriminatory.
He said noted that less than a year after the May 2024 price hike in Nigeria, the new increase openly defies a directive from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to suspend all price adjustments pending the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
The statement reads:”It reflects MultiChoice’s clear disregard for both Nigerian consumers and regulatory authority. Even more troubling is the company’s simultaneous enhancement of service offerings and reduction of prices for South African customers.
In South Africa, MultiChoice has lowered fees on various products, added new channels, and introduced features that improve the user experience, all while acknowledging the financial pressures faced by South African households.
This double standard, lowering prices at home while increasing them in Nigeria, amounts to economic discrimination and reinforces long-standing concerns about MultiChoice’s exploitative approach toward the Nigerian market.
It is indefensible for MultiChoice to cite inflation in Nigeria as justification for the hike while offering consumer-friendly pricing in South Africa.
This reflects a disturbing double standard, with Nigerian consumers continuing to suffer under a near-monopolistic market structure that MultiChoice exploits with impunity.
While MultiChoice claims the price hike is necessary to deliver “world-class content,” Nigerian subscribers still face persistent challenges that remain unaddressed despite repeated complaints.
These include repetitive content, frequent service disruptions, and poor value for money.
Rather than resolving these issues, MultiChoice has chosen to penalise its loyal Nigerian customers with higher prices, once again proving that profit, not service or fairness, is its primary motivation.
Meanwhile, South African subscribers benefit from reduced pricing, such as the “Add Movies” bolt-on slashed by 38% to R49, alongside additional channels and enhanced streaming features.
MultiChoice CEO Byron Du Plessis’s justification that these changes are due to “financial pressures faced by households” further demonstrates the company’s hypocritical and disingenuous treatment of Nigerian consumers, who are themselves grappling with a severe cost-of-living crisis.
MultiChoice’s dominance in Nigeria’s pay-TV sector, enabled by a lack of effective competition, has emboldened its monopolistic practices.
The ease with which it increases prices without fear of losing market share highlights the urgent need for regulatory intervention. Nigerian consumers are effectively held captive in a market where choice is limited and abuse is rampant.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) must take decisive steps to foster genuine competition in the pay-TV sector and dismantle MultiChoice’s stranglehold on the market.
We call on Nigerian consumers to explore alternative platforms and consider boycotting DStv and GOtv until MultiChoice demonstrates genuine respect for their rights.
Save the Consumers demands the immediate reversal of the March 2025 price hike, compensation for subscribers affected by repeated, unjustified price increases and service deficiencies, and full compliance with the FCCPC’s directive.
We urge the FCCPC to initiate legal proceedings against MultiChoice for its defiance of regulatory orders and its disregard for consumer welfare.
A transparent investigation into its pricing model, service quality, and compliance with Nigerian competition and consumer protection laws is essential.
We call on Nigerian consumers to explore alternative platforms and consider boycotting DStv and GOtv until MultiChoice demonstrates genuine respect for their rights.
MultiChoice’s discriminatory pricing, rewarding South African subscribers with lower costs and better services while exploiting Nigerians, is a glaring example of unchecked corporate greed. Save the Consumers stands firmly with Nigerian subscribers in rejecting this injustice and calls on all stakeholders to hold MultiChoice accountable.
The Nigerian market deserves dignity, not exploitation. No company should be allowed to operate above the law or treat Nigerian consumers as second-class subscribers.”
Business
CBN places suspicious BVNs on 24-hour watchlist
These provisions are set to take effect from 1 May 2026.
Photo: Olayemi Cardoso , CBN Governor
To combat fraud, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled new regulations aimed at strengthening fraud control and digital banking security across the country.
These provisions are set to take effect from 1 May 2026.
In a circular issued to all banks, other financial institutions and payment service providers, the apex bank details amendments to the Revised Regulatory Framework for Bank Verification Number (BVN) operations and additional requirements for instant payment services.
Under the new BVN framework, financial institutions are required to maintain a temporary watchlist for BVNs implicated in suspected fraudulent transactions.Any BVN placed on this list will remain there for a maximum of 24 hours, during which the account holder will be contacted to provide clarification.
The circular also sets age restrictions for BVN enrolment, limiting registration to individuals 18 years and above, and restricts phone number amendments linked to BVNs to a single change.
Access to BVN databases will now be exclusively for CBN-licensed financial institutions, with the central bank retaining the right to grant access in extenuating circumstances under existing laws.
Business
Indorama, Nigerian Breweries and Genesis Power plan 45,000 tons rPET Plant in Lagos
The initiative aims to meet fast rising demand for recycled content, reduce plastic waste and create local value through improved collection systems.
Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, Nigerian Breweries Plc and Genesis Power and Energy Solutions Ltd have entered a strategic partnership to establish one of Africa’s largest state-of-the-art recycled PET (rPET) production facilities in Nigeria.
Located in Lagos, the site represents an investment to develop a facility capable of producing up to 45,000 tons of food grade rPET resin yearly, with start up targeted in the first half of 2027, a statement by the partners said.By converting post consumer PET bottles into high quality recycled material for packaging applications.
The initiative aims to meet fast rising demand for recycled content, reduce plastic waste and create local value through improved collection systems.
The project is expected to support recycling capacity in Nigeria, subject to regulatory approvals, technical validation and operational implementation.
Together, the partners aim to establish commercially viable rPET operations that enable responsible growth and long-term environmental impact.
Commenting on the landmark partnership, Executive President of Petchem and Chairman of ESG Council at Indorama Ventures, Yash Lohia, said: “This partnership marks a defining milestone in our global recycling journey. By establishing our largest recycling facility to date and one of the largest rPET sites in Africa, we are bringing Indorama Ventures’ global expertise, proven technologies and long-term vision for circularity to a region with immense growth potentials.
This investment reflects our belief that scaling sustainability solutions locally is essential to building resilient, sustainable packaging systems that deliver lasting environmental and economic value.”
Chairman and CEO of Genesis Energy, Akinwole II Omoboriowo, said: “This compelling initiative demonstrates Genesis’s commitment to deploying capital to climate-resilient investments by leveraging clean energy as a strategic nexus to advancing viable economic opportunities.
The investment is also a testament to how cross-sector partnerships can enable sustainable industrial development. By combining circular economy principles with resilient infrastructure and energy solutions, the initiative supports long-term environmental impact and local value creation.”
Business
CBN restricts mobile banking apps operation to one device
In the circular signed by the CBN’s Director of Payments System Policy Department, Musa Jimoh, said ” Implementation of the above provisions will take effect from July 1, 2026.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria on Friday restricted the operation of mobile banking applications (apps) to one device.
This was contained in a circular to all banks and other financial institutions and payment service providers (PSP) announcing additional guidance for the operations of instant payments (IP) in Nigeria.
In the circular signed by the CBN’s Director of Payments System Policy Department, Musa Jimoh, said ” Implementation of the above provisions will take effect from July 1, 2026.”
The circular read: “The Central CBN in line with its mandate of promoting financial system stability hereby issues additional guidance for the operations of Instant Payments in Nigeria.
All Financial Institutions (FIs) offering Instant Payment (IP) shall provide the following additional functionalities: Mandatory device binding: Mobile financial services applications (apps) shall only be enabled on one device at a time, and customers cannot operate the apps concurrently on multiple devices.“Migration to another device shall trigger automatic re-activation and authentication.
“Customers shall have the option to opt-out of opt-in to IP service at any time and for any given period.
This process shall be subject to Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) control. Default setting shall be Opt-in upon on-boarding a new customer.
“In the opt-out mode, a customer shall not be able to carry out online instant transfer of funds (intra or inter) from his/her account to another customer.“
However, customers can physically visit the financial institution to effect transfer during this period.
“Voluntary Transaction Limit: Subject to the existing maximum limits of N25 million for individuals and N250 million for corporates, customers shall have the option to adjust the limits as needed.
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