Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, have criticised the Federal Government’s proposed 30-day discount on petrol sold at NNPC retail stations. Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, says the arrangement is not a subsidy but will allow the government to sell petrol at cost for an […]
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, have criticised the Federal Government’s proposed 30-day discount on petrol sold at NNPC retail stations.
Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, says the arrangement is not a subsidy but will allow the government to sell petrol at cost for an initial 30 days, with priority given to public transporters.
Atiku, however, described the measure as temporary and questioned what would happen to Nigerians after the 30-day period ends.
He argued that the intervention would not provide lasting relief from high transport fares, food prices and other cost-of-living pressures.
Atiku also questioned how much consumers would save per litre and how the discount offered to public transporters would translate into lower fares for passengers.
He instead called for longer-term measures, including budgeted production support tied to petrol refined locally, with safeguards to ensure that consumers benefit.
The NDC also rejected the initiative, describing it as inadequate to address the economic impact of fuel subsidy removal.
The party questioned whether designated NNPC retail stations would be sufficient to serve Nigerians and raised concerns about possible overcrowding at participating stations.
Both Atiku and the NDC called for more sustainable measures to reduce fuel costs and provide lasting economic relief for Nigerians.
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