The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticised the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) retail stations, describing the initiative as “tokenism and deceit.”
The party accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of attempting to reverse the effects of fuel subsidy removal through what it described as a poorly planned and inadequate intervention.
In a press statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, Esq., the NDC said the temporary discount was a belated response to the economic hardship Nigerians had endured since the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The statement followed remarks attributed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, who reportedly said the government would offer petrol at cost through NNPC stations for an initial period of 30 days, with priority given to public transport operators nationwide.
Oyedele was quoted as saying that the initiative was not a subsidy but an arrangement to sell petrol at cost.
However, the NDC rejected the explanation, arguing that the policy amounted to an attempt to reintroduce petrol subsidy through the backdoor.
The party maintained that the government removed the subsidy without adequate consultation, planning or protective measures to cushion the impact on Nigerians.
“Nigerians cannot be deceived,” the statement declared, questioning the government’s response to the economic consequences of the subsidy removal, including job losses, business closures and the difficulties faced by citizens accessing healthcare.
The opposition party also expressed concerns about the feasibility of implementing the discount through designated NNPC retail outlets across the country.
It questioned whether the available outlets could adequately serve Nigeria’s population of more than 200 million people, warning that inadequate distribution arrangements could lead to overcrowding and possible stampedes at filling stations.
The NDC further argued that the announcement reflected what it described as the failure of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, popularly referred to in the statement as “Emilokanomics.”
According to the party, the Nigerian economy is facing severe challenges, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed to provide effective solutions.
Despite its criticism, the NDC expressed confidence that it could offer an alternative political direction under the leadership of Peter Obi.
The party called on Nigerians to support Obi and other NDC candidates in the January 16, 2027 elections, saying the country could be put back on the path to recovery under a new administration.
“A New Nigeria is POssible with Obi,” the statement added.
The Federal Government’s reported 30-day petrol discount is expected to provide temporary relief to eligible motorists and public transport operators, although questions remain over the scope of implementation, the number of participating outlets and the potential impact on consumers.
