Akpabio Orders DStv to Appear Before Senate, Slams Unfair Subscription Model in Nigeria

By Emmanuel Kwada

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has directed MultiChoice’s DStv to appear before the Nigerian Senate, accusing the pay-TV giant of operating an exploitative subscription policy that unfairly burdens Nigerian subscribers.

Speaking on the floor of the Senate, Akpabio criticised the company’s practice of charging customers on a daily basis even when their service is not in use, contrasting it sharply with what he described as a more customer-friendly approach in South Africa, the company’s home base.

“If you travel for one month, two months, three months, your card will not run. Your money remains until you come and activate it,” Akpabio said.

“But in Nigeria, once you pay, if you travel for a week or two weeks, by the time you come back, it has run out. So they are charging you on a daily basis even when it is not in use.”

The Senate President declared that such a policy “South Africa cannot try this” on its home soil, describing the Nigerian experience as unacceptable.

Akpabio’s directive comes amid growing public complaints about the high cost of DStv subscriptions, frequent price hikes, and perceived poor value for money in the face of a struggling economy and depreciating naira. Many Nigerians have repeatedly called for stricter regulation of the company’s operations in the country.

The Senate is expected to summon DStv officials to explain their billing practices, subscription terms, and why Nigerian customers are subjected to what the Senate President views as unfair and one-sided conditions.

This latest move reflects increasing legislative scrutiny of multinational companies operating in Nigeria, particularly those in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors, as lawmakers respond to widespread consumer grievances over service quality and pricing.

Further details on the date for DStv’s appearance before the relevant Senate committee are expected to be announced soon.