Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have criticized the Nigerian government’s plan to offer a 30-day discount on petrol at NNPC stations. They question whether this short-term measure will truly help Nigerians facing rising living costs.
The Finance Minister, Taiwo Oyedele, announced the discount, stating it is not a subsidy but a way to sell petrol at its actual cost. Atiku responded by calling the discount a temporary fix that does not address ongoing financial struggles. He described it as a politically motivated gesture following a long period of hardship.
Atiku’s statement emphasized that a one-month discount would not solve the issues of high transport fares and food prices. He asked what would happen after the discount period ends, warning that people would still face the same high costs. He said, “Nigerians wake up to the same brutal prices… The government cannot manufacture relief for one month and expect Nigerians to applaud.”
He also criticized the government for not providing details on how much savings there would be per litre and how this would affect transport costs for passengers. Atiku suggested that a more effective solution would be a long-term support plan for petrol production and refining in Nigeria.
The NDC echoed Atiku’s concerns, describing the government’s discount as inadequate. They argued that the government is trying to reintroduce petrol subsidies indirectly and questioned whether the designated NNPC stations could handle the demand from the public.
In their statement, the NDC called the government’s offer “tokenism and a Greek gift” and urged support for their candidates, including Peter Obi, claiming he would lead Nigeria in a better direction.
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