Connect with us

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.

Published

on

74 Views

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.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

We are under attack – NNPCL GCEO, Ojulari

Published

on

34 Views

Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has announced that he and his management team are currently under serious threat.

Ojulari said his offense is the reforms he has introduced in the oil and gas sector in line with the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu to turn around the moribund refinery.

He raised this alarm on Thursday, lamenting that some powerful elements are plotting to remove him from the seat.

The NNPCL boss raised the alarm when he received the delegation of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, led by its President, Comrade Festus Osifo, at the company’s headquarters, Abuja.

Details shortly…

Continue Reading

Business

Govt, stakeholders to explore industrial policy at W’Africa Manufacturing summit

The collaboration will take centre stage at the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit & Exhibition 2025, scheduled for October 2025, in Lagos.

Published

on

By

41 Views

•The Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh

The Federal Government has committed to exploring strategies for implementing the new National Industrial Policy to scale industries and transform West Africa’s economic future, alongside manufacturing stakeholders at an upcoming summit.

The collaboration will take centre stage at the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit & Exhibition 2025, scheduled for October 2025, in Lagos.

The Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, at a press conference on Wednesday in Lagos, declared that Nigeria will build its industrial policy on past executive orders targeted at promoting local content, but with a stronger push through the Nigeria First policy.

He said, “The previous administrations have tried to enable industrial growth by coming up with various executive orders.

Those include Executive Orders Three and Five, which were targeted at matters about public procurement and giving priority to Nigerian-made goods.

With the announcement of the Nigeria First policy, what becomes of it will be a function of what this administration does.”

Enoh noted that the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment would follow up on the policy with a nationwide campaign to promote patronage of Nigerian goods and services.

He explained, “The hope is that in the next few months, we’re going to start a national campaign on buying made-in-Nigeria goods and services to follow up the presidential pronouncement of the Nigeria First policy.

We found out that the country could earn about N3tn more in the short term if we can run a successful campaign that can also shift the attitudes of Nigerians.

(The Punch)

Continue Reading

Business

Access Holdings names Innocent Ike new GMD/CEO

Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said Ike’s appointment signals a new phase for the group.He said, “We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Innocent Ike as we move forward. “

Published

on

By

51 Views

• Innocent Ike

Access Holdings Plc has appointed Mr. Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval.

The announcement, contained in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by the company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, comes hours after Roosevelt Ogbonna resigned from the company’s board in compliance with new corporate governance rules issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Ike takes over from Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who has steered the company in acting capacity for the past 18 months after the death of former Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe, in 2024.

She will now return to her role as Executive Director, Business Support.

Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said Ike’s appointment signals a new phase for the group.He said, “We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Innocent Ike as we move forward. “

Continue Reading

Trending