The Oodua Youth Coalition (OYC) has urged Nigerians to boycott South African-owned telecoms and pay-TV providers, particularly MTN and MultiChoice, for allegedly fleecing consumers and aiding the continuous drain of Nigeria’s riches.
The youth group, in a statement signed by its Vice President Administration, Mr. Olatunji Adejuwon, on Tuesday, described the operations of the two firms in Nigeria as unfair and anti-consumer, alleging that they have consistently placed profit above the welfare of Nigerian subscribers.
MTN and MultiChoice have reportedly imposed pricing policies and service conditions on Nigerian consumers that would not be accepted in their native country, South Africa, the coalition said, according to Daily Independent.
The organization said that the firms were making billions of naira yearly from what they called exploitative business practices as Nigerians still grapple with economic distress.
The coalition in particular took issue with MultiChoice’s subscription model, saying consumers lose access to services after their payment time is up, even if they used the service to the fullest during the paid period.
It also accused MTN of “excessive and unexplained depletion of data bundles”, a situation it said has become a major source of discontent among young Nigerians, students and professionals.
Adejuwon said the situation had reached a point where Nigerians could no longer keep quiet while foreign firms, allegedly, make huge profits without giving commensurate value, describing the trend as a form of economic exploitation that needed a coordinated response from citizens, labour unions and youth organisations.
Consequently, the OYC called on the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to rally Nigerians against what it described as “digital and economic colonisation.”
The group claimed a statewide boycott would send a strong message to corporations who do not treat Nigerian consumers fairly.
The coalition also tasked indigenous telecoms companies such as Glo and Airtel Nigeria to upgrade their infrastructure, service quality and network coverage to enable Nigerians patronise local alternatives with confidence.
Strengthening local companies is key to minimising reliance on foreign enterprises, the organization said.
It also urged the federal government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to tighten consumer protection, probe claims of data manipulation and formulate policies that promote local businesses and goods.
The statement urged Nigerians to patronise locally made goods and services as part of measures to protect the nation’s economy, retain capital in the country and boost economic self-reliance.
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