The Senate on Wednesday resolved to investigate the alleged unwholesome practices by Multichoice Nigeria, owners of the Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) pay television.

Directing its committees on information, trade and investment to conduct the investigation and report back to it within four weeks, Senate also directed the committees to consider summoning the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC).

It also mandated the committees to organise a public hearing for all the stakeholders, including relevant civil societies to foster a way forward.

This followed a motion moved by Senator Isah Hamma Misau at the plenary.

Misau stated that Multichoice firm in Nigeria had been engaged in negative and unhealthy trade practices because of its dominance of the Nigerian satellite television market.

He said DSTV has severally been in the news for one legal tussle or the other from aggrieved subscribers, who are dissatisfied with the programming service and unreasonable subscription hikes across their various bouquets.

…Orders Contractors To Resume Work On Apapa Road

The Senate also on Wednesday resolved to direct the Federal Ministry of Works  to resume rehabilitation work on the road leading to the Apapa ports in Lagos State in order to clear the gridlock on that route.

The directive followed the submission of a report of the committee  on marine transport by its chairman, Senator Ahmed Sani.

The committee said that the two construction firms handling the  rehabilitation of the main road leading to the Apapa port left the  site, because the ministry was owing them N11.7 bn.

In its report, the panel noted that the contractors handling  construction of the Trunk Holding Bay had also abandoned work because the firm was being owed N1.5bn.