Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Obidient Movement, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the presidential campaign organisation of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde have rejected the Federal Government’s proposed 30-day petrol discount, describing the intervention as inadequate and questioning its timing and sustainability.
The Federal Government had announced that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) would temporarily forgo its retail profit margin on petrol and sell the product at a discounted price for 30 days to cushion the effects of rising global crude oil prices on Nigerians.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced the initiative on Thursday, saying priority would be given to public transport operators.
Oyedele explained that the arrangement would enable NNPC Limited to sell petrol at cost by temporarily foregoing its profit margin, rather than restoring the fuel subsidy regime removed on May 29, 2023.
The Presidency also maintained that the intervention, backed by President Bola Tinubu, did not amount to a return to the petrol subsidy system.
However, energy experts expressed mixed reactions, with some welcoming the temporary relief while others warned that the initiative could amount to another form of subsidy if its costs were not transparently managed.
In a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the intervention as a “panic-driven publicity stunt”.
The former Vice-President questioned the sustainability of the initiative, asking what would happen after the 30-day period expires.
He argued that Nigerians would return to the same high petrol prices, transport fares and rising food costs once the discount ends.
Atiku also questioned the decision to restrict the discount to NNPC filling stations, the absence of a confirmed reduction per litre and the lack of guarantees that transport operators would pass the savings on to passengers.
He maintained that the intervention supported his proposal for production assistance tied to locally refined petrol, advocating capped and budgeted support with safeguards to ensure consumers benefit.
Similarly, the Obidient Movement questioned the timing of the announcement, suggesting that it could be linked to the approaching 2027 general elections.
In a statement by its Director of Media and Communications, Onyeka Dike, the movement asked why the government had waited more than three years after removing the fuel subsidy before introducing measures to reduce petrol prices.
Dike argued that Nigerians had endured high petrol prices, increased taxes, rising tuition fees and escalating food costs since the subsidy removal.
He described the hardship as the consequence of policy choices and urged Nigerians not to be swayed by temporary relief measures.
The movement insisted that the country required sustainable access to affordable fuel, food and education, adding that 30 days of discounted petrol could not erase three years of hardship.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress also rejected the initiative, describing it as “tokenism and a Greek gift” from a government it accused of removing the fuel subsidy without adequate consultation or measures to cushion its effects on Nigerians.
The proposed intervention has continued to generate debate over the best approach to reducing petrol costs and easing the economic burden on households and businesses.
