Hottestgistnaija.com
By Kola Popson
It has been said many a time by many that Nigerians are the most enduring people in the world. Truthfully, Nigerians are enduring and tolerant people. However, it has also been noted by many that Nigerians are the easiest to cheat and take for granted. The tolerating attitude of Nigerians to virtually everything has resulted to foreign investors taking them for granted in the process of transacting business with them. This time, the unfair deals offered to Nigerians by the Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners and operators of DStv and GOtv pay-TV platforms, is of great concern that necessitated this writing.
A critical analysis in the ways Multichoice deals with its subscribers in Nigeria and subscribers from other African countries will make one conclude that Nigerians are not being fairly dealt with. For example, it has been reliably gathered that if a subscriber of Multichoice Limited from Ghana travels out of the country, his/her subscription will be put on hold until he/she returns to Ghana. This same thing is applicable to subscribers from South Africa and other African countries. Sadly, the reverse is the case for subscribers in Nigeria, as their subscriptions continue reading every single day. Multichoice Nigeria keeps the subscribers’ accounts running even when they travel and there is no one at home to utilize the services. It does not even matter whether they have power supply to enjoy the services of Multichoice Nigeria Limited or not. Once you load your decoder, it starts reading even when you are not at home. This is quite unfair.
Similarly, it would be recalled that MultiChoice, on 3 March 2015, had announced a 20 per cent hike in its subscriptions fees for all its bouquets in Nigeria with effect from 1 April, 2015. In the same vein, it is on record that there was an interim order by Justice C.J. Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos, compelling Multichoice Nigeria Limited to revert to its old subscription rates pending the determination of the suit on the legality of its new tariffs. . The suit leading to this order had been filed by two lawyers challenging what they consider as arbitrary increment in subscription rates imposed by MultiChoice Nigeria. Also, the two lawyers had come up with a proposal for pay-per-view model, which they want MultiChoice to adopt as they believe it is done in other countries.
However, in spite of this order, the satellite television service provider has gone ahead to give effect to its price increase – an action which contradicts an order given by the court. This action is another pointer that Multichoice and some other foreign investors treat Nigerians with disdain and no respect. Though some may argue that as at April 2, when the Federal High Court granted the orders of interim injunction, the price increase had already taken effect from 1st of April, many strongly believe that the company should maintain ‘the status quo’ order by reverting to its previous price. Though findings have revealed that the new tariff is not only applicable to Nigerians, as it affects all subscribers in other African communities as well, some Nigerians believe that subscribers from Nigeria should enjoy some leverages over others because the country has more subscribers of Multichoice than some other Africa countries.
On a similar note, it is quite disheartening to note that often a time, the services of Multichoice Nigeria is so poor that subscribers find it difficult enjoying what they have paid for. If it is not bad network, it is having difficulty activating their card after payment has been made. Also, when a call is placed to their customer service’s lines, just like MTN, AIRTEL do, it takes them hours to pick the call.
Summing-up, it is important to note that Nigerians are not just interested in price reduction of the services rendered to them by Multichoice Nigeria; they also want to be charged on pay as you watch services as it is done in other African countries. Until this is done, Multichoice Nigeria Limited will be considered unfair in dealing with its subscribers from Nigeria.
