Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the Obidient Movement and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s presidential campaign organisation have rejected the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount, describing it as inadequate to address Nigerians’ economic hardship.
The Federal Government announced that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) would temporarily forgo its retail profit margin to sell petrol at a discount, with priority given to public transport operators.
Atiku described the initiative as a “panic-driven publicity stunt”, questioning its sustainability and what would happen after the 30-day period.
Similarly, the Obidient Movement questioned the timing of the intervention, while the NDC described it as “tokenism”. Both groups argued that temporary relief would not address the hardship caused by rising fuel prices.
Makinde’s presidential campaign organisation, under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), also criticised the reported N60-per-litre discount, describing it as inadequate compared with previous petrol price increases.
However, the Presidency insisted that the intervention was neither a return to subsidy nor price control, saying it was designed to cushion households against global oil price increases.
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Energy experts welcomed the possibility of temporary relief but called for transparency, warning that the arrangement could become another form of subsidy if its costs were eventually borne by taxpayers.
