By John Ikani
President of Nigerian Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday warned MultiChoice Nigeria not to dare Nigeria by going ahead to hike the tariffs of its products, while the matter was being investigated.
The Senate President issued the warning while inaugurating a seven-member ad hoc committee, headed by Senate Deputy Chief Whip Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, to look into the matter.
Recall that the committee inaugurated by Lawan was set up last month following the announcement by MultiChoice to increase the prices of DStv and GOtv packages.
A statement signed by Lawan’s Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, quoted him as saying: “No operator should take us for granted. We mean business. We want you to be here. Nigeria always provide the climate for you to do your businesses but don’t abuse the laws of our country.
“Our consumers here are people who are innocent and we are prepared to protect them.
“Meanwhile, stay action. No increase. No increase. And that is to say don’t dare our country. No increase in tariffs,” the Senate President warned.
On his part, Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Abdullahi lamented that: “It is mind-boggling that barely two years after a price hike by Multichoice, which was followed by a big uproar by Nigerians, comes another unexpected increment without proper consultation with critical stakeholders.”
He added that the investigation is an opportunity to right the wrongs and bring these service providers to operate within the confines of the law as obtainable outside the shores of the country, citing that incessant hike in tariff without recourse to constituted authorities is a thing of great concern that calls for questioning.
