Save the Consumers, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has condemned MultiChoice for reducing prices for its DStv and Gotv services in South Africa while hiking the same in Nigeria.
The NGO described the move as as discriminatory and exploitative.
In a statement on Sunday, Aliyu Ilias, executive director, Save the Consumers criticised the 21 percent increase in subscription fees.
The group highlighted the contradiction in MultiChoice’s pricing policies, pointing out that while Nigerian consumers are being charged more, South African subscribers are enjoying price reductions of up to 38 percent along with additional channels and improved services.
The NGO also accused MultiChoice of defying Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), directive to suspend all price adjustments pending an ongoing investigation.
“This action is not only insensitive and exploitative, but also blatantly discriminatory,“ Ilias said.
“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.
Ilias also said the justification by Byron Du Plessis, chief executive officer (CEO), MultiChoice, that the 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”.
“This double standard—lowering prices at home while increasing them in Nigeria—amounts to economic discrimination,” he added.