Annyeonghaseyo,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here's what I've got for you today,
- Can Africans continue to afford global services?
- Brass rebrands as Copper Brass
- FCCPC sues MultiChoice Nigeria
FCCPC sues MultiChoice Nigeria
Remember last week, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) specifically instructed MultiChoice Nigeria to hold off on any increases while a review was ongoing? However, MultiChoice didn’t listen.
The company just went ahead and hiked their DStv and GOtv subscription prices again. Nigerians woke up to new rates on March 1, 2025, despite being told this wouldn't happen yet.
We’re talking about a 21% increase on the DStv Compact bouquet (now ₦19,000), while the Premium package shot up to ₦44,500. Even GOtv subscribers weren’t spared, with the Plus package now at ₦5,800. And just in case you forgot, the last time they raised prices was in May 2024. So yeah, most Nigerians are fed up.
FCCPC wasn’t having it either. They’ve now dragged MultiChoice Nigeria and its CEO, John Ugbe, to court for ignoring regulatory orders, obstructing an ongoing investigation, and doing whatever they wanted. The commission is calling this a pattern of disobedience and is determined to hold them accountable.
The argument from MultiChoice? They blame inflation, high energy costs, and the naira’s freefall for the price hikes. Sure, businesses have to survive, but with Nigerians already struggling under the weight of skyrocketing prices everywhere, this move just feels like salt in an open wound.
FCCPC says it’s not just about the money; it’s about consumer rights and fair competition. MultiChoice didn’t just raise prices; they did it in a way that disregarded regulatory processes and left customers with no choice but to pay up. Now, the commission is making sure they face the consequences.
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Interestingly, this isn’t the first time someone has taken legal action against MultiChoice over price hikes. Back in April 2024, Barrister Festus Onifade filed a lawsuit against both MultiChoice and the FCCPC, accusing the company of increasing subscription fees without giving the required one-month notice.
But the case dragged on after MultiChoice requested a stay of proceedings, pushing the hearing to November 2024. Frustrated by the delays and fearing his case might be blocked entirely, Onifade eventually withdrew the suit after some back and forth with the tribunal.
Anyhoo, what happens next? We’ll have to wait and see how the court battle plays out.
Can Africans continue to afford global services?
You know one thing I regret not doing at the start of the year? Paying for my Google One subscription annually. I have no idea why I went for the monthly plan. Maybe I was broke after paying for other subscriptions and just thought, "I’ll sort it out later."
But really, shouldn’t that have been a priority? The only subscription I should be paying monthly is Netflix. These streaming services are just draining my wallet at this point. And now, thanks to Google’s latest price hike, I’ve got to pay even more.
If you missed it, Google LCC, the company behind Google One, sent out an email on February 26 announcing that its cloud storage prices are going up. The increase kicks in on March 28, 2025, for existing users and immediately for new subscribers. Countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, and Tanzania are affected.
But honestly, this isn’t even new. Google has been bumping up prices across Africa for years. Back in 2023, they raised prices in Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria. South Africans saw a 35.87% jump, while Kenyans had to deal with at least a 25% hike. Then in 2024, Kenya’s annual plan went up by 19%.
And it's not just Google. Global brands have been hiking prices left, right, and centre. Netflix and Starlink have also increased their fees in Nigeria recently, all in the name of "enhancing value and improving service." Netflix, for example, hiked its premium plan by 40% in July 2024, moving it from ₦5,000 to ₦7,000. Starlink wasn’t left out either. Their monthly plan shot up from ₦38,000 to ₦75,000, while their hardware went from ₦440,000 to ₦590,000.
What’s even crazier is that Starlink’s pricing is more reasonable in some other African countries. In Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Cape Verde, Starlink is actually cheaper than what the top local Internet providers charge. Kenyans even have the option to rent a Starlink device or go for a lower-cost 50GB plan.
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, it’s either you cough up the full price or forget about it.At this rate, can Africans even keep up with these never-ending price hikes? Everything just keeps getting more expensive, and it doesn’t seem like these global brands are slowing down anytime soon. Sarah explores this in her latest story. Check it out to see if there’s any way out of this mess.
Brass rebrands as Copper Brass
Nigerian fintech startup, Brass, is making a comeback this month after a rough patch in 2023. If you’ve been following the drama, you’d remember how customers struggled to access their money, and by mid-2024, withdrawals were completely frozen. Things got so bad that Paystack had to step in and acquire the company. Now, with a new leadership team and a fresh start, Brass is rebranding as Copper Brass and getting ready for a relaunch.
The acquisition wasn’t exactly a happy ending for the original founders, Sola Akindolu and Emmanuel Okeke. They both left the company without any financial payout from the deal, while Paystack took on the challenge of fixing Brass’s financial troubles. To get things back on track, Paystack initially sent three of its employees to help manage operations, but none of them wanted to stay long-term. Eventually, a new CEO was brought in to steer the company forward.
In an effort to restructure, the new leadership asked all Brass employees to reapply for their jobs, which led to layoffs. The company has since gone through two rounds of job cuts, the latest happening in December 2024. At its peak, Brass had over 60 employees, but now fewer than 20 remain. Paystack has taken the lead in reshaping the company, while PiggyVest, another investor in the acquisition, holds a seat on the board.
Brass has also changed how it operates. It used to be a remote-first company, but that policy is gone. Employees now have to work more from the office, with longer hours and even during holidays. The pressure was too much for some, leading to resignations and dismissals, especially during the 2024 Christmas holidays.
Right now, Brass isn’t aggressively signing up new users. Instead, it’s focusing on improving its platform and ensuring it can properly serve its existing customers. That said, they haven’t completely shut the door on new sign-ups. The company originally planned to relaunch in October 2024 but pushed it to Q1 2025 to refine its strategy and regain customer trust.
Before all the chaos, Brass had raised over $1.7 million from investors like Acuity Ventures, Hustle Fund, and big names like Paystack’s CTO Ezra Olubi and Flutterwave’s CEO Olugbenga Agboola. Whether they’ll need to raise more money soon remains unclear. One thing’s for sure. Brass, now Copper Brass, is betting big on this relaunch. Let’s see if they can turn things around.
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Opportunities
- MTN is hiring a Manager for Customer Acquisition and Compliance in North East Nigeria. Apply here.
- Standard Bank Group is looking to fill several positions across Africa. Apply here.
- Kuda is looking for a Product Designer. Apply here.
- Vesti is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Paystack is hiring a Payroll specialist for Africa and Europe. Apply here.
- Lendsqr is looking for interns. Apply here.
- YC is offering summer grants this year to support undergraduate computer science and engineering students. Apply here.
- Lagos Business School has several openings. Apply here.
- IHS Towers is looking to fill different positions across Africa. Apply here.
- Kuda is hiring a content editor. Apply here.
- Selar is giving out 5 million naira in tuition support to 50 final-year Nigerian students through the Selar Tuition Fund. Apply here.
- Bamboo is looking for a Senior treasury and settlement associate. Apply here.
- Paystack is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Taptap Send is hiring a regional director. Apply here.
- MTN is hiring for several positions. Apply here.
- PalmPay is looking for an asset officer. Apply here.
- FairMoney is looking for Business Operations Manager. Apply here.
- Paga is hiring for several roles, including CRO, Treasury Manager, and Doroki Growth Manger. Apply here.
- AltSchool Africa is hiring several instructors. Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Celebrate the New Year with delightful stories like Smart Couples. Call 421 on your Airtel line now — you won't be charged! Alternatively, call 07080601391 at your network's regular rate. Learn more here.
- Follow Techpoint Africa's WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.
Have a superb Thursday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
