Déjà vu - Streaming Giant Netflix Hikes Nigerian Subscription Fees for Third Time in 12 Months to ₦8,500

 

Nigerian subscribers of Netflix are waking up to yet another upward revision of their monthly bills as the global streaming platform has adjusted its prices, pushing costs up across all tiers of service. The latest increase, which affects all four major subscription plans, is the third such adjustment since 2024 and the first of 2025.

The most significant change comes to the Premium Plan, which now costs ₦8,500 per month, marking a sharp 21.43% rise from its previous ₦7,000 rate. This plan offers the highest resolution (Ultra HD) and supports up to four simultaneous streams, making it the go-to choice for larger households or subscribers seeking top-tier service.

Standard Plan users are also seeing their subscription fees climb from ₦5,500 to ₦6,500—a jump of 18.18%. This plan enables viewing in HD and allows content to be streamed on two devices at the same time.

 

Basic Plan subscribers, who prefer a more modest service with one screen and no HD, now pay ₦4,000, up from ₦3,500—a 14.29% increase. Even the Mobile Plan, designed for viewing only on smartphones and tablets, has not been spared. It now costs ₦2,500, rising 13.64% from ₦2,200.

This pricing shake-up follows a consistent pattern established by the company over the past year. Netflix previously raised its subscription prices twice in 2024, with the latest increase now bringing the total adjustments to three in just about 12 months. Each revision reflects a broader corporate strategy aimed at sustaining content investments and enhancing service delivery globally.

The company’s explanation to investors underscores a clear message: innovation and expansion come at a cost. “As we invest in and improve Netflix, we’ll occasionally ask our members to pay a little extra to reflect those improvements, which in turn helps drive the positive flywheel of additional investment to further improve and grow our service,” Netflix said in a recent shareholder note.

Although the company stopped short of directly citing inflation as a factor, its website indicates that such price changes are made to accommodate “local market changes,” which includes rising taxes or inflationary pressure. Nigeria has experienced sustained double-digit inflation over the past year, coupled with significant currency depreciation, both of which have eroded consumer purchasing power and complicated the pricing strategies of multinational tech firms operating in the region.

Other digital and media companies are responding similarly. Streaming services like DSTV and GOtv, as well as tech giants such as Google and Microsoft, have all revised their pricing upward in Nigeria in response to the country’s challenging macroeconomic environment. These moves highlight a broader trend where companies are forced to recalibrate regional pricing models to keep pace with operational costs and economic fluctuations.

Subscribers, however, find themselves caught in the crossfire between corporate strategy and economic reality. Many Nigerian users have turned to social media platforms to voice their frustrations, with some threatening to cancel their subscriptions altogether. For some, the increasing cost of streaming content is beginning to rival—or even exceed—the costs of traditional cable TV.

Despite the backlash, Netflix maintains that its value proposition justifies the price hike. The platform has continued to ramp up investments in local and international content, including a growing slate of Nigerian originals aimed at appealing to regional audiences. This includes movies and series shot in Lagos and other Nigerian cities, employing local talent and showcasing cultural narratives.

The company’s long-term plan appears to hinge on this content expansion as a means of growing and retaining its subscriber base, even in the face of economic headwinds.

With this latest adjustment, Nigerian Netflix users must decide whether the added costs still deliver sufficient value, or whether they will explore alternative platforms or revert to other forms of entertainment altogether.

As the streaming wars intensify and economic pressures persist, the question remains: how much are consumers willing to pay for convenience, content, and the Netflix experience?