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 Adedapo Adesanya
Woodrow has been named Africa Agency of the Year 2026 by PRovoke Media, one of the world’s leading authorities on the communications industry.
The award recognises Woodrow’s rapid growth across the continent and its work supporting clients navigating some of Africa’s most complex communication, policy, reputation and stakeholder challenges.
In announcing the award, PRovoke Media described Woodrow as “a different kind of communications firm for Africa. Built locally, but operating across borders, with a focus on high-stakes, high-complexity mandates that reflect the realities of the continent’s political and economic landscape.”
Founded five years ago by Mr Charlie Tarr, who has spent more than two decades working across African markets advising various organisations, Woodrow has grown from its Nairobi headquarters into a multi-market African consultancy. It now has teams and partners across Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Senegal and South Africa, delivering work across 13 countries.
Since 2024, Woodrow has more than doubled revenue, expanded delivery across more African markets and supported assignments that have generated global audiences exceeding 70 million people in multiple markets.
Speaking on the recognition, Mr Charlie Tarr, Founder and CEO of Woodrow Communications, said, “When we started Woodrow, we believed Africa deserved communications advice built for Africa’s realities, not imported templates. This recognition is a testament to our people, our clients and our belief that world-class strategic communications can be built from the continent and compete with the very best anywhere in the world. This feels more like a beginning than an arrival.”
Adding his input, Mr David Karega, Head of East and Southern Africa, added, “This award belongs to the team and the clients who have trusted us with some of their most important moments. From major launches and investment announcements to reputation management, policy engagement and crisis situations, we have had the privilege of helping them achieve influence. It shows that globally recognised PR excellence can be built from Nairobi and delivered across Africa.”
Woodrow’s growth has been driven by its local-first operating model, combining deep in-market expertise with regional coordination and strategic advisory support. It supports organisations such as AGRA, Bupa Global, BIC and a range of international foundations, investors and development institutions working across Africa.
Looking ahead, Woodrow is investing in new capabilities around digital influence, audience intelligence and integrated stakeholder engagement to help clients navigate the media landscape in Africa.
“Africa has never been a side conversation for us,” Mr Tarr added, “It sits at the centre of our work and future. The continent is producing some of the world’s most important opportunities in technology, investment, food systems, climate and economic transformation. We are excited to continue helping clients shape those conversations, build influence and contribute to Africa’s growth.”
SportyTV has been added to select DStv and GOtv packages in Nigeria, expanding the sports content available to subscribers. The 24-hour sports channel offers a range of live sporting events alongside news, analyses, highlights and is available to DStv Yanga and GOtv Jolli customers. The channel is also available on GOtv in Kenya and Ghana.
The addition of SportyTV complements the existing sports offering on DStv and GOtv, providing subscribers with access to additional football, basketball and combat sports content.
“SportyTV is a valuable addition to the DStv Access and GOtv Value content offering across Africa,” said David Mignot, CEO of CANAL+ Africa. “It expands the range of sporting events available to customers at an accessible price point and reflects our commitment to making quality sports content available to audiences across the continent.”
Sudeep Ramnani, Founder and CEO of Sporty Group, said: “Our ambition has always been to provide African audiences with broad access to sports content and storytelling. Through this partnership with CANAL+, we are extending that offering to more households across the continent.”
“The SportyTV channel gives DStv and GOtv subscribers additional viewing options that complement SuperSport’s existing range of sports programming,” said Rendani Ramovha, Director of Sport Content for English and Portuguese-speaking Africa at CANAL+. “It broadens the overall sports proposition with additional live events and supporting content.”
SportyTV’s football schedule includes competitions such as the English Premier League, Carabao Cup, EFL Championship, Women’s FA Cup, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and the Spanish Super Cup. The channel also carries South American competitions including the Copa Libertadores, Argentina League and Brazil Serie A, as well as select basketball and other international sports content.
Elias Gallego, Vice President of Business Development, Marketing and Media at Sporty Group, said: “Launching SportyTV on DStv and GOtv allows us to extend our reach and bring a broader range of sports content to viewers across Africa.”
SportyTV will also carry dedicated club channels including Real Madrid TV, Arsenal TV, Chelsea TV and Manchester City TV. Additional content includes coverage from leagues in Greece and Saudi Arabia, alongside basketball programming featuring the NBA.
The channel launched on 10 June 2026 and is available in HD on DStv channel 236 and GOtv channel 58 in Nigeria.
Brands/Products
Sachet Alcohol Ban: NAFDAC Targets Distributors, Retailers in Second Phase of Enforcement
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has unveiled plans to commence the second phase of enforcement of its ban on sachet alcohol and small-pack alcoholic beverages, targeting distributors and retailers.
The regulator said it had completed the first phase of enforcement targeted at manufacturers, while plans were already in motion to begin the second phase of enforcement.
The agency began enforcement of the ban on sachet and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic drinks in January.
The enforcement, which generated mixed reactions, according to NAFDAC, was necessitated to align the country with global health standards and Sustainable Development Goal 3.5 on reducing harmful alcohol consumption.
The agency also said the decision was taken to ensure that children do not have access to alcohol and to prevent long-term health problems associated with its consumption.
Mr Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, warned at a news conference in Lagos that distributors and sellers found violating the law would face sanctions once the enforcement begins.
“We have finished removing the products from manufacturers, and we are now moving to the next phase, which is removing them from the market.
“We will investigate how these products are still finding their way into circulation and take appropriate action,” he said.
He emphasised that the nation’s law empowers NAFDAC not only to regulate the manufacture and sale of regulated products but also their use.
“The law gives us authority over manufacture, sale, distribution and use. Consumers should be aware that using products that have been prohibited also places them on the wrong side of the law,” he said.
The director urged market operators who still stock sachet alcohol and other prohibited products to discontinue sales before enforcement begins.
“We have given ample notice. Those who have invested money in these products should take steps now because nobody should accuse NAFDAC of economic sabotage when enforcement starts,” he added.
Mr Iluyomade, also Chairman of the Federal Taskforce, said that the agency would go after advertisers and online vendors promoting unregistered products or making unapproved health claims.
He explained that registered products could be advertised only after obtaining the necessary approvals from the agency.
“Before advertising a regulated product, marketers must obtain NAFDAC approval. This ensures that only approved claims are made about the product.
“Any advertisement that goes beyond what has been approved is a serious offence,” he said.
He further cautioned social media operators, e-commerce platforms and website owners against allowing their platforms to be used for the promotion of unregistered products.
“Whether you are a physical vendor or an online vendor, if your platform is used to advertise unregistered products or products without advertisement permits, we will come after you.
“Many false claims are being made online, and we are determined to stop them,” he said.
The agency reiterated its commitment to protecting public health through strict enforcement of existing regulations and urged Nigerians to comply with the law.
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