…Questions petrol discount plan, warns of queues, inadequate supplies
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed the Federal Government’s proposed 30-day petrol discount as inadequate, insisting that a month of temporary relief cannot erase years of economic hardship caused by fuel subsidy removal.
The opposition party argued that the initiative would do little to ease the financial burden on millions of Nigerians struggling with rising transport fares, food prices, business costs and other living expenses.
In a statement dated October 8, 2026, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for introducing the measure without, according to the party, adequately addressing the wider consequences of its economic policies.
The party’s reaction followed an announcement by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, that petrol would be sold at discounted rates at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) retail outlets for an initial period of 30 days.
Public transport operators nationwide are expected to receive priority under the arrangement.
Oyedele had explained that the initiative was not a return to the former fuel subsidy regime, saying the government intended to sell petrol at cost.
But the NDC questioned the effectiveness of the arrangement, describing it as a temporary measure that fails to address the deeper economic challenges confronting Nigerians.
“This is nothing but tokenism and a Greek gift from a government that whimsically removed fuel subsidy without proper consideration, consultation, or cushions for Nigerians,” the party said.
The opposition party argued that a short-term reduction in petrol prices could not reverse the broader effects of subsidy removal, particularly on workers, entrepreneurs and small businesses struggling to survive rising operating costs.
It challenged the Federal Government to explain what support had been provided for workers who had lost their jobs, business owners whose enterprises had collapsed and small-scale operators battling escalating expenses.
The NDC also raised concerns about the impact of the economic situation on access to healthcare, alleging that financial hardship had made it increasingly difficult for some Nigerians to afford medical treatment.
It questioned whether public hospitals had the capacity to meet the needs of patients affected by the rising cost of living.
Beyond the economic implications, the party expressed doubts about the capacity of NNPC retail outlets nationwide to meet demand under the proposed arrangement.
With Nigeria’s population exceeding 200 million, the NDC warned that limiting the discount to designated filling stations could trigger long queues and fierce competition for available petrol.
It also cautioned that poorly managed queues could create safety risks, including possible stampedes.
The party urged the government to consider the logistical challenges of implementing the initiative, including the distribution of participating filling stations, the volume of petrol available and the number of Nigerians expected to benefit.
The NDC further questioned the distinction between selling petrol at cost and subsidising its price, accusing the Tinubu administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to reintroduce elements of the former subsidy regime through another mechanism.
It described the proposed intervention as evidence of what it considers weaknesses in the government’s economic management, insisting that temporary relief cannot replace comprehensive policies aimed at reducing the cost of living and improving Nigerians’ purchasing power.
“The APC has shown itself glaringly incapable of rescuing the country from imminent collapse,” the statement added.
Turning its criticism towards the 2027 general election, the party urged Nigerians to support its presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, and other NDC candidates, arguing that the polls would provide an opportunity to change the country’s economic direction.
The party expressed confidence that a change in leadership would usher in a different approach to economic governance.
Meanwhile, the actual impact of the proposed 30-day petrol discount will depend on the size of the price reduction, the availability of petrol at participating NNPC outlets and the number of eligible motorists and transport operators able to access the scheme.
