By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Wonders shall never end! It would be hilarious—if it weren’t so tragic. The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government of Nigeria, the same one that recently approved an astronomical increase in electricity tariffs, is now telling us that the ₦47 billion yearly power bill for Aso Rock is unsustainable. In the grand tradition of “do as I say, not as I do,” the Presidency has now decided to explore solar energy solutions for itself.
Yes, you read that right.
While everyday Nigerians are grappling with higher electricity costs—some watching their bills skyrocket by over 300% overnight—the government is quietly preparing to install solar panels at the Presidential Villa to cut down on its own energy costs. Suddenly, when it’s Aso Rock footing the bill, power becomes too expensive. But when it’s market women, teachers, and civil servants trying to keep the lights on, the government preaches “cost-reflective tariffs” and lectures us about “sacrifice.”
Where was this energy-saving epiphany when millions of Nigerians were plunged deeper into energy poverty due to the tariff hike? Where was this concern for “sustainability” when small businesses began shutting down generators and freezing production because power was no longer affordable?
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu owes Nigerians an apology—not just for the staggering insensitivity of this move, but for the sheer hypocrisy of it.
You cannot wish yourself a different economy than the one you’ve imposed on the people who (allegedly) elected you. If the cost of power is unsustainable for the government, what magic do you suppose everyday Nigerians are using to pay their bills?
The same administration that champions deregulation and privatization when it comes to bleeding citizens dry is now turning to subsidized, taxpayer-funded solar solutions for itself. The message is clear: when the going gets tough, the tough get solar panels—if they’re in Aso Rock.
Let’s be honest. ₦47 billion annually to power one residence is a scandal in itself. But to turn around and ask a struggling populace to pay more for less, while the President installs an off-grid luxury solution for himself, is a slap in the face.
This isn’t leadership. It’s a parody of governance.
If President Tinubu wants to set an example, let him reverse the electricity tariff hike first. Let him show Nigerians that shared sacrifice means something—not just for those in power, but for the people they claim to serve.
Until then, no amount of solar panels can shield the government from the glaring light of its own double standards.
