Energy analyst and veteran media executive Ikechukwu Amaechi, has publicly condemned the Nigerian electricity sector’s much-promoted “Band A” classification, describing it as deceptive and exploitative. In an appearance on Breakfast Central, a morning programme aired by News Central on Tuesday, Amaechi challenged the legitimacy of the Band A power supply framework, calling it a “complete fraud” that fails to deliver the promised 20 hours of daily electricity while charging exorbitantly higher tariffs.

Amaechi, who serves as the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Acclaim Communications Limited, said he both lives and works in locations categorized under Band A—areas supposedly prioritized for nearly round-the-clock power supply. However, he claimed that neither his residence nor office receives anything close to the stipulated hours of electricity.

“It’s a Scam”: Band A Under Fire

“This so-called banding of electricity supply, Band A, is a fraud, a complete fraud,” Amaechi stated emphatically during the interview. “I live in an area they said is Band A. My office is off Allen, again, Band A. When this Band A thing came, we were told that you must have about 20 hours of electricity supply a day and that if you don’t, you should complain. Go and ask anybody who is in this Band A scam… whether they get up to 10 hours. Where I live, I don’t get up to 10 hours.”

Beyond the unreliable electricity supply, Amaechi expressed dismay over the significant rise in his electricity bill since his reclassification under Band A. He noted that his tariff surged from approximately N62 per kilowatt-hour to an astonishing N206 per kilowatt-hour—a more than 230% increase—without any tangible service improvement to justify it.

Growing Frustration Among Consumers

Amaechi’s remarks echo a growing chorus of public dissatisfaction over Nigeria’s electricity billing regime, especially among Band A customers who feel betrayed by the promises of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and electricity distribution companies (DisCos).

Under the revised tariff framework approved by NERC, Band A customers are expected to receive no less than 20 hours of electricity daily and, in exchange, pay the highest tariff rates. However, consumers across the country are increasingly reporting experiences that contradict this policy.

Social media is awash with complaints from residents of Band A zones, many of whom say they endure prolonged daily power outages—some stretching as long as 14 hours. In reality, they argue, there has been little to no improvement in electricity supply since the tariff increase went into effect.

One resident from Abuja, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared her frustration: “They said we would be prioritized in electricity distribution. But since the new tariffs started, the situation has actually gotten worse in my area. I feel cheated.”

NERC’s Silence and Calls for Government Action

Despite these widespread complaints, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has remained largely silent, choosing not to respond publicly to the growing accusations against DisCos. This lack of communication has further fueled suspicions of regulatory failure and has eroded trust in the system.

Several consumer advocacy groups, civil society organizations, and industry stakeholders have now called on the federal government to step in. They are demanding a comprehensive and independent audit of the Band A classification to ensure that only areas receiving consistent and quality power supply are subjected to premium tariffs.

“The tariff system must reflect reality,” said one industry analyst who requested anonymity. “You cannot ask people to pay more than triple the old rate and then offer them less than half the promised electricity supply. That’s daylight robbery, not reform.”

Background: The Banding Framework

The banding system, introduced by NERC in recent years, is a tiered classification strategy aimed at segmenting electricity consumers based on the average daily power supply they receive. Band A customers were assured of a minimum of 20 hours per day, Band B 16-20 hours, Band C 12-16 hours, and so on.

The rationale behind this structure was to align tariff rates with actual service levels, thereby encouraging DisCos to improve supply in higher-band areas while offering consumers a pricing structure tied to performance. However, the lack of transparent enforcement and inadequate monitoring mechanisms have allowed numerous discrepancies to persist.

Critics argue that the DisCos have not been held accountable for failure to deliver on service expectations. Rather, they continue to profit from tariff hikes without investing in infrastructure upgrades or resolving operational inefficiencies that plague the power grid.

Economic Pressure on Households and Businesses

The fallout of the tariff hike is not just a policy debate—it has direct financial consequences for millions of Nigerians. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), already grappling with inflation and high fuel prices, now face unsustainable electricity bills, further straining their ability to remain operational.

“We used to run on a mixed model—public power and generator,” said a business owner in Ikeja. “Now, I pay more for power and still have to run my generator for several hours daily. It’s crippling.”

For ordinary households, the spike in utility bills means cutting back on other essentials. “We can’t keep up,” a resident of Enugu said. “The bills keep rising, and the light is not even stable.”

What Lies Ahead?

With the credibility of the Band A classification hanging by a thread, analysts suggest that urgent reforms are needed to restore public trust and ensure equity in electricity billing. There are increasing calls for NERC to institute real-time power monitoring systems, enforce strict compliance checks, and introduce penalty mechanisms for DisCos that fail to meet service standards.

Moreover, transparency in reporting actual supply metrics per area could help consumers understand what they’re paying for—and challenge billing irregularities when necessary.

Until then, many Nigerians like Ikechukwu Amaechi will continue to view Band A not as a badge of progress but as a burden of broken promises. As public outcry intensifies and electricity reliability remains elusive, the Nigerian government may be forced to rethink the banding strategy before discontent turns into widespread resistance.