The Federal Government has defended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.)’s 30-day petrol discount initiative, insisting that the measure is a temporary relief scheme and not a return to fuel subsidy.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the initiative was designed to cushion the impact of rising international energy costs on Nigerians while the government continues to implement its economic reforms.
Idris spoke on Monday during an interactive media engagement with senior editors and broadcast anchors in Abuja, where he addressed concerns about petrol prices, the cost of living, labour relations, food security, infrastructure, national security and press freedom.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister explained that NNPC had decided to forgo part of its profit to provide temporary relief to consumers amid rising fuel costs.
“The NNPC has looked at it and said, ‘Okay, we are making this much profit. Why can’t we forgo some of the profit that we are making, so that Nigerians will have some form of cushioning?’” he said.
The minister maintained that the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained committed to improving living conditions and sustaining economic recovery, acknowledging, however, that many households continued to face significant financial pressure.
He cited improving economic indicators, including declining inflation, stronger external reserves and increased non-oil export earnings, as signs of progress under the administration’s reforms.
Idris, however, stressed that the government must ensure that the gains recorded at the macroeconomic level translated into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“Our task now is to ensure that this clear macroeconomic recovery is felt even more widely in the lives and households of Nigerians,” he said.
On labour relations and the rising cost of living, the minister expressed optimism that the Federal Government and organised labour would resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.
He also recalled President Tinubu’s position that minimum wage arrangements could be reviewed every three years rather than every five years.
Addressing concerns about local government financial autonomy, Idris reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to implementing the policy, saying consultations with relevant stakeholders were ongoing to address practical challenges and ensure its effective operation.
On food security, he highlighted government efforts to boost domestic agricultural production and strengthen strategic food reserves.
The minister also urged traders to avoid hoarding food items and practices that create artificial scarcity, stressing that collective action was necessary to make essential commodities more affordable.
“Government can create these enablers for Nigerians to have succour, but it is ultimately up to Nigerians to also support what government is doing,” he said.
Idris also defended ongoing federal road projects, arguing that the infrastructure investments were intended to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, support agricultural activities and open up economic corridors.
He rejected suggestions that the projects were being undertaken for electoral purposes, insisting that better roads were necessary to connect communities and stimulate business activities.
“Nobody is fixing road just because there is election. We are fixing road so that Nigerians can have access on these roads, so that it can connect cities, create these economic corridors for businesses to thrive,” he said.
On national security, the minister highlighted the expansion of military operational structures from eight to 12 divisions and improved support for security personnel.
While acknowledging that significant security challenges remained, he said the government was committed to strengthening the country’s security architecture and protecting lives and property.
The minister also addressed concerns about press freedom and reports of arrests involving citizens expressing political views.
He said he was unaware of any directive by President Tinubu authorising the repression of the media and promised to seek clarification on specific incidents raised during the engagement.
Idris, however, urged media organisations to uphold professional standards, verify information and avoid misleading or sensational headlines.
He maintained that press freedom must go hand in hand with responsibility and accurate reporting.
“Press freedom is not just one thing that is just hanging in the air. It is also having something attached to it, and that is the responsibility of those who are exercising it,” he said.
The minister commended participating media organisations for their engagement and expressed the government’s willingness to sustain the interactive sessions, potentially on a fortnightly basis.
He said regular engagements would strengthen communication between the government and the media, provide clarification on policies and create opportunities to address emerging national issues.
