The Southwest zone of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to lock up the offices of MultiChoice Nigeria if it fails to reverse the planned hike on Dstv and Gotv subscription rates within seven-day.
“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,” said the students association.
In text messages sent to its subscribers, MultiChoice had announced an upward review of prices on its DSTV and GOTV packages by 17 per cent. It stated the new rates would take effect on May 1, 2023, citing rising costs of business operations as reason for the increase.
Opposing the subscription hike, NANS in a statement by its Coordinator, Adejuwon Olatunji, Deputy Coordinator, Alao John, and Public Relations Officer, Opeoluwa Awoyinfa said the South African company was bringing hardship on, and extorting Nigerians, without considering their standard of living.
It also noted that tariffs should be charged on a “pay as you view” basis.
“Today, we are aware that Multi Choice Digital Satellite has increased its tariffs without considering the standard of living of Nigerians. We have also waited for long to see if this same company will dance to the music of Nigerians who have been clamouring for ‘pay-as-you-view’ tariff, but the reverse is the case,” the statement said.
“This is the time to call on National Broadcasting Commission to go back to the Commission’s act to regulate the ownership, activities and operations of Direct Broadcast Satellite Service Providers