Must you debit me? - by Thoughts From Emilia

As a 19-year-old, fresh from earning my BSc in Accounting, living in the hustle and bustle of Abuja, nothing stings like checking my bank app after a long day and spotting some random “TRX FEE” draining my account. It’s like shouting, “Must you debit me?” As someone who’s spent years crunching numbers and balancing books, it’s not just about the naira—it’s about feeling like my hard-earned money is slipping through my fingers in this digital age. Digital payments are a lifesaver, no cap. Whether I’m grabbing shawarma in Wuse, paying for a Bolt ride to campus, or sending money to my younger sister who swears she doesn't have anything, it’s all just a tap away. But every time I use my card or punch in a USSD code, I’m putting faith in a system that feels like it’s playing hide-and-seek with me. I’ve aced financial accounting, but when a random 1,000 naira charge hits for some “subscription” I don’t even remember signing up for, I feel like a fresher lost in a ledger. Why is it so easy for banks or apps to dip into my funds, but fixing their mess takes endless calls to customer care with that annoying “your call is important to us” loop? It hits deep, abeg. Every debit feels like someone’s picking my pocket in Area 1 market. Like when my bank slapped a “card maintenance fee” on my student account—haba, for what? Guarding my small savings? Or when an app auto-renews without notifying me first. I’m supposed to be sharp with accounts, but these systems are built to catch you off guard, like a keke swerving into your lane. It’s not just sloppy bookkeeping; it’s a reminder we’re at the mercy of algorithms and those tiny terms and conditions we skip. Still, I can’t lie—digital payments make life in Abuja sweet. I can order food online when I’m stuck in school late or buy power without trekking to the nearest AEDC office. It’s a blessing for someone like me, but the price is staying on high alert. I’m always checking my transaction alerts, questioning charges, and googling how to cancel subscriptions before they “chop” my money again. It’s stressful, and it makes me wonder—why do 'I' have to hustle so hard to protect 'my' naira? We need better, jare. Banks and apps should give us clear terms, no hidden charges, and proper warnings before debiting us. I’ve been using budgeting apps to track my spending, and I’m curious about blockchain stuff from my fintech classes—maybe it could give us more control. But more than that, I want businesses to treat me like a person, not just an account to milk. “Must you debit me?” is my way of demanding fairness in a system that sometimes feels like a setup. As an accounting grad in Abuja, I know my worth, and I’m not letting my naira vanish without a fight.

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