News on the street is that Netflix has shot down rumours about leaving Nigeria, saying it’s fully committed to its audience and the country’s entertainment industry.
Responding to the speculation, In a statement to TechCabal on Wednesday, a Netflix spokesperson assured fans that it’s here to stay and is actively working with Nigerian filmmakers to bring more local stories to life.
This reassurance comes after chatter on social media suggested the streaming giant might quit Nigeria due to economic challenges and regulatory hurdles. Netflix made it clear that those claims are false and highlighted its role in putting Nigerian productions like Blood Sisters, Anikulapo, and Shanty Town on the global map.
But here is the issue: while Netflix has invested heavily in African content — $175 million between 2016 and 2023 — most of that money (a whopping 71%) went to South Africa. Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and creative powerhouse, has received much less. This raises questions about how much Netflix is willing to bet on the Nigerian market long-term, especially given the high production costs and subscription affordability issues.
