By Mandy Park
The Nigeria Democratic Congress has criticised the Federal Government’s decision to introduce a 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited retail outlets, describing the measure as tokenism and an attempt to deceive Nigerians.
The party said the initiative, which the government said would prioritise public transport operators, was inadequate to address the economic hardship Nigerians had experienced since the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The NDC’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, stated this in a statement dated October 8, 2026.
The party was reacting to an announcement by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, who said the government would offer discounted petrol at NNPC retail outlets for an initial period of 30 days.
Oyedele reportedly explained that the arrangement was not a return to fuel subsidy but an initiative under which the government would sell petrol at cost.
However, the NDC argued that the intervention was a belated response to the consequences of the subsidy removal, which it claimed had worsened the financial difficulties of households and businesses across the country.
The party questioned the impact of the initiative on Nigerians who had lost their jobs, closed their businesses or struggled to afford basic necessities following the increase in the cost of living.
It also raised concerns about the state of public healthcare, alleging that inadequate medical facilities had contributed to preventable deaths.
“The attempt to reintroduce petrol subsidy through the backdoor is not only mischievous but a sign of a government in free fall, ready to clutch at anything to survive,” the party said.
The NDC also questioned whether the number of NNPC retail outlets across the country would be sufficient to serve Nigeria’s population, warning that the arrangement could lead to overcrowding at filling stations.
It asked the Federal Government to explain how the discounted petrol would be distributed nationwide and what measures would be put in place to prevent congestion and possible stampedes at designated outlets.
The party further argued that the 30-day intervention would not adequately address the broader economic challenges facing Nigerians, insisting that the government needed to provide more sustainable solutions to rising living costs.
Describing the administration’s economic policies as a failure, the NDC said the petrol discount was insufficient to reverse the hardship associated with the removal of the subsidy.
The party, however, expressed confidence that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would offer an alternative approach to governance and economic management.
It urged Nigerians to support Obi and other candidates of the party in the January 16, 2027 elections, saying the NDC would work towards addressing the country’s economic and developmental challenges.
