Despite Nigerians’ plea for a slash in monthly subscription fees amid the coronavirus crisis, DSTV owners, MultiChoice appears to have shunned the request.
Many Nigerians at home and on social media have been begging MultiChoice to reward their loyalty by giving them either free subscription for a certain period or reduction in rates.
On Wednesday, the company announced N250million to the Federal and Lagos State governments to support its efforts to curtail COVID-19.
MultiChoice was, however, silent on any kind of offer for the millions of Nigerians who keep the company in business.
Rather, it said it had committed funds to government, TV announcements as well as producers, cast and crew of shows on its platform.
A statement by Caroline Oghuma, Executive Head, Corporate Affairs, gave a breakdown of MultiChoice’s contribution in the fight against COVID-19.
They include, “Cash support of N200m and N50m to the Federal and Lagos State Governments respectively, the donation of 10,000 certified test kits to the NCDC, Public Service Announcement COVID-19 prevention tips in English, Pidgin, Ibo, Yoruba and Hausa languages as well as approved inventory worth over N550million highlighting the NCDC’s COVID-19 Helplines and PSAs on more than 10 channels across DStv and GOtv.”
The statement quoted Chairman MultiChoice Nigeria, Adewunmi Ogunsanya (SAN), as saying: “We are donating 10,000 certified test kits to support the great work being done by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health.
“We are also contributing N250million to the Federal and Lagos State Governments’ efforts in providing adequate healthcare delivery facilities to fight COVID-19.
He expressed hope that the contributions to NCDC, the Federal and State Governments, alongside other donations, will go a long way towards effective management of the outbreak.
The statement further quoted John Ugbe, CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria, as confirming the donation of N550 million worth of inventory to public service announcements.
“Also, the creative industry salary payment of up to N400 million will offer a much-needed financial reprieve for producers, actors, and technical talent currently contracted to MultiChoice Nigeria, whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the pandemic”, Ugbe said.
There are over 130 cases of coronavirus in Nigeria. Two deaths have been recorded.
The global pandemic, which broke out in Wuhan, China, has killed over 42,000 people globally in three months.
