FCCPC eummons MultiChoice Nigeria over controversial price hike
By Blessing Emmanuel
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned MultiChoice Nigeria, operator of DStv and GOtv, to justify its planned subscription fee increase, which is set to take effect on March 1, 2025.
In a statement released on Tuesday, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, confirmed that the Commission has directed MultiChoice Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer to appear at its headquarters on February 27, 2025, for an investigative hearing. This move comes in response to MultiChoice’s recent announcement of a 21 per cent price hike on its DStv Compact package, raising the monthly subscription fee from N15,700 to N19,000.
The decision has ignited widespread criticism among subscribers, with many taking to social media to express their frustration over what they describe as frequent and unilateral price increases. The FCCPC’s statement expressed deep concerns regarding these recurring hikes, which it argues raise serious questions about fairness, potential market dominance abuse, and anti-competitive practices within Nigeria’s pay-TV industry.
“Exercising its mandate under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, the Commission directed the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria to attend an investigative hearing at our headquarters on February 27, 2025,” the statement read. “This action follows the formal notification of the price adjustment, which has raised concerns about recurrent unilateral price hikes and perceived anti-competitive practices.”
The consumer watchdog warned that if MultiChoice Nigeria fails to provide a satisfactory explanation or is found to have violated fair market principles, the company could face penalties, sanctions, or other corrective measures. In addition, the FCCPC confirmed that it is collaborating with the sector regulator and other relevant agencies to ensure that competition remains fair and consumer interests are robustly protected in the rapidly evolving pay-TV market.
