NANS demands MultiChoice reverses DSTV Price Hike

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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-west Zone, has given MultiChoice Nigeria a seven-day ultimatum to reverse its planned hike on DSTV and GOTV subscription rates, stating that the company was extorting Nigerians without considering their standard of living.

MultiChoice recently announced an upward review of prices on its DSTV and GOTV packages by 17%, stating that rising costs of business operations was the reason behind the increase.

In a statement opposing the hike, NANS urged the National Broadcasting Commission to regulate the ownership and operations of Direct Broadcast Satellite Service Providers.

The student association also called on the Federal Government to force MultiChoice to implement pay-as-you-view tariffs, similar to what the company operates in other countries.

NANS Coordinator, Adejuwon Olatunji, Deputy Coordinator, Alao John, and Public Relations Officer, Opeoluwa Awoyinfa, signed the statement, which declared, “We hereby give seven days ultimatum to MultiChoice Digital Satellite Television to reverse the plan of increasing the tariffs and also yield to the call of Nigerians by implementing pay-as-you-view tariffs, or else, we shall be left with no other option but to lock up all offices of DSTV until our demands are met, which is the mind of all Nigerians.”

Nigeria constitutes over 45% of DSTV global market share, making it the company’s largest market since its inception of operation from 1995.

The association has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Communication to “break the sporting right of MultiChoice” and provide an alternative service provider in the country to stop the exploitation of Nigerians.