Broadcasting
Reps Ask DSTV, Others to Introduce Pay As You Go Tariff
The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to interface with Mutichoice Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) and other service providers to introduce the Pay as You Go Tariff (PAYG) plan.
The lawmakers made the resolution on Tuesday while adopting a motion by Unyime Idem (Akwa-Ibom, PDP).
Moving the motion, the lawmaker noted that the National Broadcasting Commission Act empowers the National Broadcasting Commission to regulate the ownership, activities or operations of Radio and Television Stations, as well as Direct Broadcast Satellite Service Providers. He said currently, there are over 10 Direct- To-Home Service Providers operating in Nigeria and rendering paid services.
He also noted that DSTV, one of the leading Direct-To-Home Service Providers in Nigeria, was launched in 1995 and has about 11.9 million subscribers, which is the largest market for its operations.
Mr Idem said he was worried that DSTV and other Direct-To-Home Service Providers have deliberately refused to implement the Pay As You Go Tariff Plan but rather charge users on a fixed monthly tariff plan, unlike what is obtainable outside Nigeria.
“Nigeria constitutes 40 per cent of DSTV’s global market share, yet over 40 per cent of the citizens do not use a greater part of their paid monthly tariff due to engagements that take them from one location to the other on a daily basis, hence they cannot access the services upon expiration, whether or not they used their previous subscriptions until they renew it for another month,” he said.
He said he was aware that DSTV operates a Pay As You Go Tariff Plan in other countries but has chosen to exploit Nigerians through a fixed monthly Tariff Plan.
“The continuous exploitation by Multichoice, owners of DSTV, constitutes economic sabotage against Nigerians as most of them pay for services they do not consume while the company, judging from their average monthly tariff of eight thousand naira, if multiplied by 11.9 million subscribers, makes about 100 billion naira monthly at the expense of its subscribers.”
Part of the yet to be named ad-hoc committee mandate is to investigate the non- implementation of the Pay As You Go (PAYG) tariff plan by broadcast Satellite Service Providers with a view to ensuring strict compliance with the tariff plan and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
Nigerians have for years grumbled over the continued payment for services not rendered by MultiChoice, the major distance-to-home service provider in Nigeria.
Subscribers have pleaded with the federal government to enact a law to compel MultiChoice to introduce “pay-as-you-view billing’’ system.
Many are of the view that there was a need for such billing system, as it would ensure value for the subscription.
The lawmaker said many of the subscribers complained of paying for services they do not use, adding that after several complaints, MultiChoice did not listen.
Rising cost of living, currency depreciation, and competition from streaming services have all conspired to see MultiChoice lose 589,000 South African subscribers in its latest financial year.
The decline is across premium, mid-market and mass segments of its operation.
After completing its acquisition of MultiChoice, Canal+ has moved to stabilise the business.
MultiChoice’s new leadership under David Mignot, CEO, hopes to “stop the bleeding and get back to growth”.
The new leadership has scrapped DStv’s annual price increase and decided to shut down Showmax, the in-house streaming platform that struggled to compete with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Canal+execs have described Showmax as unsuccessful, noting that the difficult transition to online streaming, combined with currency devaluation in Nigeria and power cuts, had hurt MultiChoice’s profitability.
MultiChoice ended 2025 with 14.4 million subscribers across Africa, down from 14.9 million a year earlier, while revenue declined 6 percent to 2.4 billion euros.
Owners of several television and radio stations have distanced themselves from a recent threat issued by the Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN), which called for a boycott of media engagements involving Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory
IBAN had threatened to withdraw coverage of the minister’s activities unless he retracted his comment on Channels Television’s Seun Okinbaloye and issue a public apology.
However, Ambassador Yusufu Mamman, chairman and owner of JKD Television (DSTV Channel 391) and Hamada Radio Networks, has dismissed the association’s statement as baseless.
Describing Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, chairman, IBAN, as an impostor, Mamman argued that Ramalan has no authority to speak on behalf of broadcast station owners.
Mamman, who operates a television station and four radio stations, stated that he is not affiliated with any group called IBAN and would not support any action against the Minister, especially after Wike had already clarified his remarks.
“My attention has been drawn to an organisation called IBAN led by one Dr Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, speaking for and Independent Broadcasters threatening to boycott media briefing by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, unless he makes public apology in respect of his recent banters with Channels Television Anchor, Seun Okinbaloye.
“The position of so called IBAN is at best, an opinion of Mr Ramalan, who is never a broadcaster and had no idea of laws, norms, etiquette or professional broadcasting codes.
“Most importantly, Mr Ramalan has constituted himself into a fighting vehicle in courts against many broadcasting organisations and the National Broadcasting Commission.
Therefore, I urge the Minister to ignore his ranting.
“This is more so that on the live television program, the Minister took time to clarify what he meant and his Spokesperson also issued a statement saying categorically that the Minister’s comment was figurative and didn’t mean any harm,” he said.
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says the country now ranks second in Africa for domestic passengers, hitting 10.5 million in 2025—a 10 percent jump.
FAAN
FAAN boss Olubunmi Kuku disclosed this at the Airports Council International Africa conference in Luanda, Angola.
Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport posted 11.8 percent growth in air traffic movements, one of Africa’s strongest.
Cargo surged 34.4 percent at Lagos, cementing its top-tier status.
Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe and Lagos airports cracked Africa’s top 10 for domestic traffic.
Kuku stressed Nigeria’s push to host and shape African air links amid rising demand for modern, resilient airports.
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