The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has taken legal action against Multichoice, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, for allegedly disregarding its directive to halt subscription price increases.
According to Naija News, despite the FCCPC’s order to maintain existing prices until an ongoing investigation was concluded, Multichoice announced a price hike on Saturday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, revealed that Multichoice Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, were sued for violating regulatory instructions, obstructing an active investigation, and engaging in actions that contravene the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
Ijagwu noted that on February 27, 2025, the Commission had explicitly instructed Multichoice to suspend any price adjustments for its DStv and GOtv packages until the inquiry was completed.
However, the company proceeded with the price increase on March 1, 2025, directly defying the directive.
He described Multichoice’s actions as a deliberate attempt to undermine regulatory oversight, distort market competition, and deny Nigerian consumers their legal protections.
“By ignoring the FCCPC’s directive and implementing the price hike ahead of the Commission’s scheduled investigative hearing on March 6, 2025, Multichoice has not only violated regulatory processes but also demonstrated a pattern of behaviour that threatens consumer rights and fair competition,” Ijagwu stated.
He reaffirmed the FCCPC’s commitment to safeguarding Nigerian consumers from unfair business practices and ensuring that major industry players comply with fair market regulations and legal standards.
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