Atiku Faults FG’s 30-Day Fuel Discount, Demands Lasting Relief

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted the Federal Government’s decision to offer a 30-day discount on petrol sold through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), saying the measure would not provide lasting relief to Nigerians.

The Federal Government announced the discount on Thursday, with Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, saying the arrangement would allow NNPCL to sell petrol at cost for the initial 30-day period, with priority given to public transport operators.

Atiku, in a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Phrank Shaibu, described the intervention as a temporary response to the hardship caused by high petrol prices.

He said the government should instead implement policies capable of reducing the cost of living on a sustained basis, particularly the prices of fuel, transportation and essential commodities.

Atiku argued that high petrol prices have broader effects on household welfare because increased transportation costs raise the cost of moving goods and consequently affect food and other basic commodities.

He also questioned the timing of the Federal Government’s announcement, describing the 30-day discount as insufficient to address the economic difficulties facing households and businesses.

The former vice president reiterated his proposal for targeted support for petrol refined in Nigeria, rather than a blanket subsidy. He said such support should be properly budgeted, audited and linked to locally refined products.

Atiku had previously argued that reducing the cost of locally refined petrol would help lower transportation expenses, support domestic production and ease pressure on households.

The Federal Government, however, said the latest intervention was not a return to petrol subsidy, with Oyedele explaining that the government was offering the discount by allowing NNPCL to sell the product at cost for the specified period.

Atiku maintained that Nigerians needed measures that would provide durable relief rather than short-term interventions, particularly as high energy and transportation costs continue to affect household and business expenses.