Brands/Products
FCCPC: Never Should One-eyed Regulation Return
By Emmanuel Abiodun
A little over a week ago, streaming service provider, Netflix, announced a subscription hike, the third within a year. With the announcement, Netflix’s Premium plan climbed to N8,500 a month from N7,000. The Standard plan moved to N6,500 from N5,500, while the Basic plan rose to N4,000 from N3,500. The Mobile plan became N2,500, up from N2,200. The curious (perhaps not exactly curious) thing is that there was no outcry or subscriber outrage. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which carried on like a pit bull until early last month when a court ruling knocked the stuffing out of it, has become one of those playful sitting room dog breeds.
It may be tempting to think that it was the court ruling that put it on a leash. That, however, would be wrong. It has never been interested in price reviews by other businesses in whatever sector. Contrast that with the public circus that traditionally kicks off whenever MultiChoice, operators of DStv and GOtv, announce price changes. In February, when MutiChoice announced its most recent price adjustments, which took effect on 1 March, the FCCPC almost suffered a stroke caused by rage at what it described as the exploitation of Nigerians.
It tried to block the increases and threatened a bouquet of administrative sanctions if its instructions were not heeded. MultiChoice went to court. On 8 May, the recent Federal High Court ruling made it clear: the FCCPC lacks the authority to intervene in pricing decisions of businesses because the country is a free enterprise space.
The court observed that only the President can regulate prices by law and that any such delegation must be gazetted. In stripping the FCCPC of its claim to set MultiChoice’s fees, the judge also pointed out that price controls, if ever warranted, should apply to an entire industry rather than being wielded like a cudgel against one company. As John Oladapo remarked on X, “While FCCPC painted the case like a win because it was struck out for ‘abuse of court process,’ it wasn’t a win. The court went a step further to insinuate that the FCCPC was after certain industry players and that regulation should be industry-wide, not picking on a specific player.”
The irony is hard to ignore. Telecoms giants such as MTN and Airtel hiked their data and voice-call plans by 50 per cent. Global FMCGs like Coca-Cola and Nigerian Breweries have upped prices repeatedly over the past 18 months. Even essential services such as BRT bus fares, train tickets, and passport renewal fees have gone up, often with little to no public backlash or regulatory intervention.
Yet, whenever MultiChoice reviews its subscription packages, packages that remain among the most affordable in Africa, the company is front-page news, vilified as though it alone should bear the burden of of the worsening business conditions in the country.
To be clear, MultiChoice does not set its pricing in a vacuum. Every channel on DStv and GOtv, from live European football to Hollywood blockbusters, must be licensed for millions of dollars in foreign currency. Those who think the pay television space equals life on the beach should at the fate that recently befell iROKOtv. Once hailed as “Nigeria’s own Netflix,” iROKOtv spent over $100 million trying to build a streaming service exclusively with Nigerian content. Despite initial enthusiasm and heavy external funding, it ultimately shuttered. its operations in Nigeria, citing a market unwilling to pay for subscriptions. If a Nigerian platform cannot sustain itself on local subscriptions alone, what chance does a company relying on licensed content priced in dollars have? Yet iROKOtv’s exit barely merited a footnote in the regulatory debate.
Now, letus dive into the heart of the matter: selective enforcement. The FCCPC’s posturing over DStv’s rate adjustment has been nothing short of hypocritical. Last year, the Nigerian Passport Service raised application and renewal fees with barely a whisper from consumer rights watchdogs. Meanwhile, fuel stations are free to raise petrol prices; electricity tariffs, prices of medications, food items and other household needs have soared unchecked. Private educational institutions are raising fees as they deem fit.
The FCCPC considers those needs inferior to that of watching pay television provided by MultiChoice. Singling out MultiChoice ignores the fundamental economic logic at play: when inflation consistently exceeds 30 per cent, the naira hovers around N1,600 to the dollar, and operational costs, studio productions, satellite transponders, transmission towers, skyrocket, no business can hold prices steady indefinitely. The court ruling was more than a procedural victory; it was a rebuke to the practice of regulatory bullying, which punishes just one business and head-rubs the others.
Nigeria is not Soviet Union 2.0, where strict price regulation inherited from the communist era can be at play. Blanket, arbitrary investigations do little to foster investor confidence; they simply encourage companies to consider exit strategies, just as Netflix has quietly moved many of its headquarters functions out of Lagos, and just as the last iROKOtv executive chronicled in her memoir that “the moment you become a lone target, you start slipping out the back door.”
Let us not pretend that price reviews are somehow unique to pay-TV. The moment Nigerians accept that a free market exists only for some participants, and only when regulators choose to intervene in a theatrically selective fashion, is the moment we consign ourselves to perpetual economic theatre. If the cost of a DStv Premium bouquet, still the lowest among African multichannel operators, represents exploitation, what should we call the 33% petrol bump? Or the 70% rise in local rice prices in 18 months? A consumer-advocacy board that demands justice for one and silence for many forfeits its credibility.
The Federal High Court ruling should serve as a rallying cry: no single company may be scapegoated for broader inflationary pressures. While the FCCPC’s statement triumphantly declared a victory, the real takeaway is that targeting one player undermines trust in the entire regulatory framework. Rather than pontificating from press releases, the commission must shift to measured, transparent investigations across all sectors, ensuring that any decision to challenge price adjustments is grounded in economic data and a true demonstration of monopoly power, not in the optics of populist outrage.
Nigerians deserve equal treatment under the law. If the FCCPC is truly concerned about predatory pricing, it must first show that any company, be it StarTimes, Netflix, or even petrol retailers, holds a dominant position that harms consumer welfare. Until then, we must guard against regulatory grandstanding that punishes the visible and spares the rest. Because if the choice is between a free-market status quo and an unpredictable “anything goes” attitude toward price controls, the verdict is clear: allow businesses the room to operate, innovate, and, yes, adjust their fees when the macroeconomic winds blow cold. A measured, industry-wide approach will fare far better than ritual humiliations aimed solely at MultiChoice.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, customers of Airtel Nigeria felt more involved and loved when the telecommunications company gathered them together at the Lagos Travel Inn Hotel in Ikeja to discuss some of their concerns, especially around data usage, transparency and their experience with its services.
It was the first-ever Customer Forum of Airtel Nigeria in Lagos, where regulators, high-volume data subscribers, 5G customers, and other key stakeholders learned ways to tackle the issue of data depletion.
The event, themed Understanding Your Data: How to Take Control, also highlighted Airtel Nigeria’s ongoing investments in customer experience, including enhanced digital tools, clearer usage dashboards, and expanded retail and support networks aimed at improving transparency and accessibility.
“This is our very first customer forum, and it is more than an event. It is a bold statement that in today’s digital economy, the most important voice is the informed customer,” the Director of Marketing at Airtel Nigeria, Mr Ismail Adeshina, said.
He emphasised that while data has become central to everyday life, from business transactions to education and healthcare, concerns around data value and consumption remain valid and must be addressed transparently.
“Data is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity as essential as electricity and water. However, as usage grows, customers are asking an important question: “Am I truly getting value for the data I purchase? This is not just a technical issue; it is a matter of trust,” Mr Adeshina added.
He further explained that evolving usage patterns, including high-definition video streaming, cloud-based applications, and background app activity, have significantly increased data consumption compared to previous years. According to him, the forum was designed as both a listening platform and an educational session to help customers better understand how their data is used.
“We are here to listen, to explain clearly, and to provide evidence. When customers understand how their data is consumed, it shifts the experience from uncertainty to control and from frustration to confidence,” he further disclosed.
On her part, the Director of Customer Affairs Bureau at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Ms Freda Ruth Bruce-Bennett, reaffirmed the regulator’s commitment to protecting consumer interests and ensuring service quality across the industry, noting that data consumption has become deeply integrated into daily life, making any perceived loss of data a significant concern for users.
“We understand that data is central to how people live and work today, which is why concerns around data depletion are taken seriously. The NCC has put mechanisms in place to ensure that consumers receive the quality of service they deserve and that their voices are heard,” she said.
Ms Bruce-Bennett encouraged customers to take advantage of the NCC’s consumer portal, which provides guidance on data management and a platform for lodging complaints.
“There is an A to Z of data management tips available on the NCC portal, and we encourage consumers to use it. We also continue to work closely with operators like Airtel to ensure that complaints are addressed promptly and transparently,” she added.
On customer engagement and service delivery, the Customer Experience Director at Airtel Nigeria, Mr Oladokun Oye, highlighted the company’s multi-channel approach to supporting customers across the country.
“At Airtel Nigeria, customer experience is not just a function; it is embedded across everything we do. From our network design to how we communicate and resolve issues, the customer remains at the centre,” he said.
He noted that Airtel maintains one of the most extensive customer touchpoint networks in Nigeria, including over 1,000 exclusive shops, a dedicated contact centre accessible via 300, and multiple digital platforms such as the MyAirtel App, web channels, and AI-powered chatbots.
“These channels are designed to provide not just service, but clarity and understanding. We are also continuously improving our digital platforms to ensure customers can track and manage their usage in real time,” Oye added.
He further advised customers to engage only with authorised Airtel outlets to ensure service quality and protect personal information.
The Airtel Customer Forum forms part of a broader industry effort, in collaboration with the NCC, to promote data awareness, transparency in billing, and improved customer education.
By creating a platform for open dialogue, Airtel Nigeria is reinforcing its shift from a transactional relationship with customers to a more collaborative and informed partnership.
The company noted that insights from the forum will inform future improvements in service delivery, customer communication, and digital tools, as it continues to support Nigeria’s journey towards a more inclusive and transparent digital economy.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the public to the distribution of unregistered and suspected counterfeit Colgate toothpaste brand in Nigeria.
In a public notice shared on X (formerly Twitter), the agency said its Post-Marketing Surveillance Directorate received a complaint regarding the sale of the products in Kaduna State by a shop owner.
Following an investigation, officials of the food and drugs surveillance organisation visited the outlet and discovered two suspected counterfeit products branded as Coglaet ActivGel 100g and Coglaet Herbal 100g. The spellings were not only the indicator, but the production standards.
According to the agency, the shop owner disclosed that the items were sourced from a door-to-door sales representative but could not provide proof of purchase.
NAFDAC stated that the products failed to meet regulatory standards for registration and quality assurance, warning that they pose potential risks to public health and safety. It also added that the stated manufacturer could be traced to Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China.
The agency confirmed that the items have been removed from circulation, while efforts are ongoing to trace those responsible for their distribution.
NAFDAC urged consumers to remain vigilant and report any suspected sale of substandard or counterfeit regulated products to the nearest office, via its hotline or official email channels.
In a statement, NAFDAC said, “All NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been instructed to conduct surveillance and mop up the unregistered and counterfeited products if found within their zones and states.
“Distributors, retailers, and consumers are hereby advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the distribution, sale, and use of counterfeit products. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.”
Consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard, falsified, or counterfeit regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office, call NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322, or via email: [email protected]. For complaints, the Reforms Unit can be reached: 09097630506, 09097630507, or email: [email protected]
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Barely 24 hours after MTN Nigeria announced the suspension of its data and airtime lending services, another operator, Airtel Nigeria, has followed suit.
In a statement on Friday by its Director of Corporate Communications & CSR, Mr Femi Adeniran, Airtel Nigeria said it would not no longer offer the airtime and data credit services for now.
However, the company noted that customers will continue to enjoy uninterrupted access to airtime and data purchases through its existing channels.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) introduced new rules on lending services in the country, and in compliance with this, telecommunications companies had to suspend rendering the services.
The affected services allowed eligible prepaid customers to borrow airtime or data and repay on their next recharge.
The Director of Marketing at Airtel Nigeria, Mr Ismail Adeshina, in the statement, noted the suspension of the services was to “align our operations with evolving requirements.”
“Airtel Nigeria remains committed to the highest standards of compliance, transparency, and consumer protection, while continuing to innovate responsibly within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem,” he added.
The telco noted that the temporary suspension is not expected to have a material impact on its service standards across the country, promising to provide updates on the status of the service in due course.
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