NDC, Obidients condemn FG’s 30-day petrol discount

Politics Spice Special Features Education Sex & Relationship Interview Columns Opinion Advertise with us NDC, Obidients condemn FG’s 30-day petrol discount News October 8, 2026 7:15 pm By Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis Kindly share this story:

The Nigeria Democratic Congress and the Obidient Movement have condemned the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount through NNPC retail stations, describing the measure as “tokenism,” an “election year Greek gift” and an attempt to reintroduce subsidy through the backdoor.

Their reactions came after the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced the temporary discount on petrol dispensed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, with public transport operators to receive priority.

Oyedele said the arrangement was not a return to fuel subsidy, but a margin discount under which the government would sell petrol at cost.

However, the Obidient Movement, in a statement by its Director of Media and Communications, Onyeka Dike, questioned why the government had waited three years before introducing measures to reduce the burden of high petrol prices on Nigerians.

“For three years, Tinubu told Nigerians that the ‘baby steps of pain’ were necessary. Now, suddenly, a petrol discount is possible. So, what changed?” Dike asked.

He questioned whether the government’s decision was linked to the 2027 presidential election, asking, “Did subsidy suddenly become good because Peter Obi said he would restore it? Why the desperation as elections approach?”

Dike described the policy as an election-season strategy, arguing that Nigerians had endured high fuel prices, increased taxes, rising tuition and food costs since the removal of subsidy.

“The pains were never necessary. They were policy choices,” he said.

The Obidient Movement urged Nigerians not to be swayed by the temporary relief, arguing that the country needed affordable fuel, food and education on a sustained basis rather than short-term measures introduced ahead of an election.

“Three years of suffering cannot be erased by 30 days of petrol discount,” Dike said.

Similarly, the NDC described the Federal Government’s announcement as “tokenism and a Greek gift from a government that whimsically removed fuel subsidy without proper consideration, consultation, or cushions for Nigerians.”

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the policy could not address the economic consequences of the subsidy removal, including job losses and the collapse of businesses.

Director also questioned the practicality of limiting the discounted petrol to designated NNPC retail outlets, asking how many such stations could adequately serve more than 200 million Nigerians.

He warned that the arrangement could lead to congestion and stampedes at filling stations.

The NDC further accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of attempting to reintroduce petrol subsidy through the backdoor.

“The attempt to reintroduce petrol subsidy through the backdoor is not only mischievous but a sign of a government in free fall, ready to clutch at anything to survive,” Director said.

The Federal Government had earlier explained that the 30-day measure was part of a broader package of interventions aimed at cushioning the effect of high fuel prices.

Oyedele said the government was also negotiating a ceiling of N1,350 per litre on the ex-gantry or landing cost of petrol to reduce sharp fluctuations in pump prices.

Under the proposed arrangement, refiners and importers would absorb any shortfall when costs rise above the ceiling and recover it when crude oil prices or the exchange rate become more favourable.

The minister said the ceiling would be reviewed monthly, with the figures published for transparency.

The government is also pursuing increased cash transfers to vulnerable households, subsidised credit for small businesses and consumers, and a faster rollout of compressed natural gas vehicles.

Oyedele said the Federal Government had granted a full waiver of taxes and duties on petrol, valued at more than N3.3tn for the year up to September 30, 2026.

He stressed that the measures were not intended to restore a blanket fuel subsidy.

But the NDC maintained that the announcement was evidence of the failure of the APC administration’s economic policies.

The party urged Nigerians to vote for Peter Obi and other NDC candidates in the 2027 elections, saying, “A New Nigeria is POssible with Obi.”

The controversy comes more than three years after Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy in his May 29, 2023, inaugural address, a decision that triggered a sharp increase in petrol prices and has remained one of the defining economic policies of his administration.

The PUNCH journalist, Adebayo, has over 20 years of experience covering politics, health, metro, entertainment and properties

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