Nigerian DStv subscribers pay lower, NGO counters report

Association for the Defence of the Nigerian Economy (ADNE) has dismissed claims that recent price adjustments by pay television company, MultiChoice, were discriminatory against Nigerians.

ADNE expressed the opinion in a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, in response to media reports quoting a civil society organisation, Save the Consumers, to the effect that MultiChoice increased prices by 21 per cent in Nigeria, while reducing it by 38 per cent in South Africa.

Signed by its Executive Director, Jacob Agunbiade, the statement described claims of discrimination as products of laziness and illiteracy in economic matters.

“What Save the Consumer was aimed at misleading the consumer. It was lazy and dishonest. Otherwise, they would have checked on the Internet what it costs to be a DStv customer in both countries. That is the way to make an informed contribution,” the statement said.

ADNE said its research team discovered that Nigerian DStv subscribers paid less than their South African counterparts, noting that the recent MultiChoice price adjustments were a response to high inflation, rising operational costs and volatility in foreign exchange rates.

It noted that in South Africa, subscribers would be affected by new pricing, effective April 1. With the new rates, DStv Premium subscribers in South Africa would pay ZAR 979, equivalent to $53.82 at the current exchange rate of 18.19 ZAR to 1 USD.

The current rate, which would soon be obsolete, ADNE said, was 18.97 ZAR to the dollar.