The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 8, 2025, for judgment in the case between the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and MultiChoice Nigeria over the recent price hike for DStv and GOtv subscriptions. The dispute centers on the FCCPC’s directive to MultiChoice to suspend the price increase pending regulatory review, which the company failed to comply with.
The MultiChoice price hike, which took effect on March 1, 2025, saw DStv Compact move from ₦15,700 to ₦19,000, Compact Plus from ₦25,000 to ₦30,000, Premium from ₦37,000 to ₦44,500, and GOtv Supa Plus from ₦15,700 to ₦16,800. The FCCPC argued that the price increase was exploitative and abusive, and that MultiChoice had failed to justify the hike.
The FCCPC’s counsel, Prof. J.E. Agbugu, insisted that the commission is empowered to investigate price increases and protect consumers from unfair business practices under the FCCPC Act . Agbugu argued that MultiChoice’s failure to comply with the FCCPC’s directive to suspend the price increase pending regulatory review was a clear breach of the law.
MultiChoice, on the other hand, maintained that Nigeria operates a free-market economy where service providers are not required to seek regulatory approval before adjusting prices. The company’s lead counsel, N.J. Onigbanjo, argued that the FCCPC lacks the legal authority to regulate prices and that only the President has the power to set price ceilings.
Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the case, struck out an interlocutory injunction previously sought by MultiChoice and granted an oral application allowing the FCCPC to regularize its counter-affidavit. The court’s judgment on May 8, 2025, will determine the outcome of the dispute between the FCCPC and MultiChoice Nigeria.
The judgment will have significant implications for the Nigerian pay-TV market and the regulatory powers of the FCCPC [6]. If the court rules in favor of the FCCPC, it could set a precedent for regulatory intervention in price-setting decisions by service providers. On the other hand, if the court rules in favor of MultiChoice, it could limit the FCCPC’s powers to regulate prices and protect consumers.
The dispute between the FCCPC and MultiChoice Nigeria highlights the need for effective regulation of the Nigerian pay-TV market [7]. The FCCPC’s efforts to protect consumers from exploitative price increases are commendable, and the court’s judgment will be closely watched by stakeholders in the industry.