That is the question Nigerians are now asking themselves after being sold the most expensive electricity in the country in exchange for, well, more hours of darkness.
Many Nigerians who were placed in the so-called Band A category of electricity consumers are now pleading to be downgraded to any other band. The reason is painfully simple: they pay a premium for power they do not receive, and the factor of darkness remains their constant companion.
One can easily recall that this government came into office promising a brighter future, touting all sorts of succour for the already burdened masses. They assured Nigerians that increasing tariffs and segmenting electricity consumers into bands would revolutionise power supply. They told Nigerians to pay more, get reliable electricity, and watch the economy transform. For citizens bamboozled by the “renewed hope” agenda, it was just a matter of waiting and seeing. Two years into this government, long after the glowing promises of constant power supply at increased fees, the promise remains largely unfulfilled. From grid failures to a near-complete lack of supply in many areas, Nigerians are paying more for less, and, in many cases, for nothing at all.
How can Nigerians trust a government that fiddles with policies without success? From subsidy reforms to CNG initiatives, the people cannot point to a result of national impact. Each new policy is met with hope, only to end in frustration.
Band A is simply the latest in a long line of promises that fail to deliver.
The situation begs the question: was this a well-thought-out energy policy or merely a Band-Aid solution plastered over deeper systemic failures? When citizens are forced to pay higher tariffs without seeing tangible improvements, the credibility of the system and the government itself is eroded.
There is no gainsaying the fact that electricity is not a luxury. It is the lifeblood of modern society. Households, small businesses, schools, and hospitals all depend on reliable power. Yet the Band A experiment has shown that without robust infrastructure, effective regulation, and accountability, no amount of tariff restructuring will deliver the promised results.
It is time for policymakers to confront the truth. Nigerians deserve not just promises but power that works. Anything less is a Band-Aid applied over a wound that continues to fester. The government must act decisively, ensuring that tariffs reflect real value and that every naira paid brings light, not darkness.
