The Oodua Youth Coalition (OYC) has called on Nigerians to boycott South African-owned telecommunications and pay-TV companies, particularly MTN and MultiChoice, accusing them of exploiting consumers and contributing to the continued outflow of Nigeria’s wealth.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Vice President Administration, Mr. Olatunji Adejuwon, the youth group described the operations of the two firms in Nigeria as unfair and anti-consumer, alleging that they have consistently prioritised profit over the welfare of Nigerian subscribers.
According to the coalition, MTN and MultiChoice have allegedly subjected Nigerian consumers to pricing policies and service conditions that would not be tolerated in their home country of South Africa, reports Daily Independent.
The group argued that while Nigerians continue to endure economic hardship, the companies rake in billions of naira annually through what is termed exploitative business practices.
The coalition particularly criticised the MultiChoice’s subscription model, claiming that subscribers lose access to services once their subscription period expires, regardless of whether they fully utilised the service during the paid period.
It also accused MTN of excessive and unexplained depletion of data bundles, a development it said has become a major source of frustration among young Nigerians, students and professionals.
Adejuwon said the situation had reached a point where Nigerians could no longer remain silent while foreign firms allegedly reap huge profits without providing commensurate value, describing the trend as a form of economic exploitation that requires a coordinated response from citizens, labour unions and youth organisations.
The OYC, therefore, urged 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 mobilise Nigerians against what it called “digital and economic colonisation.”
The group said a nationwide boycott would send a strong message to companies that fail to treat Nigerian consumers fairly.
The coalition also challenged indigenous telecommunications providers, including Glo and Airtel Nigeria, to improve their infrastructure, service quality and network coverage to enable Nigerians to patronise local alternatives with confidence.
According to the group, strengthening local businesses is essential to reducing dependence on foreign corporations.
It further called on the federal government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to strengthen consumer protection mechanisms, investigate allegations of data manipulation, and introduce policies that support local enterprises and products.
The statement concluded with an appeal to Nigerians to embrace locally produced goods and services as part of efforts to safeguard the nation’s economy, retain capital within the country and promote economic self-reliance.
