By Our Reporter
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 outlets, describing the initiative as “tokenism and deceit.”
The party accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of attempting to win public support through a temporary relief measure after the removal of petrol subsidy, which it said had inflicted severe economic hardship on Nigerians.
In a press statement dated October 8, 2026, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC said the government failed to adequately consider the consequences of subsidy removal or provide sufficient measures to cushion its impact.
The criticism followed an announcement by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, that the government would offer discounted petrol at NNPC retail outlets for an initial period of 30 days, with priority given to public transport operators nationwide.
Oyedele had 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 rejected the explanation, describing the initiative as a “Greek gift” from an administration it accused of mishandling the removal of petrol subsidy.
The party questioned the fate of Nigerians who allegedly lost their jobs and businesses following the policy, as well as those it said had died in poorly equipped public hospitals.
It also accused the Tinubu administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of desperation, declaring that the government’s economic policies had failed.
“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 statement said.
The opposition party further questioned whether the designated NNPC retail outlets would be sufficient to serve Nigeria’s population of more than 200 million people.
It warned that concentrating discounted petrol sales at selected filling stations could create overcrowding and potentially lead to stampedes, urging the government to consider the practical implications of the arrangement.
The NDC maintained that the petrol discount was inadequate to address the country’s broader economic challenges, which it described as evidence of a deteriorating economy.
The party also used the statement to promote its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, declaring that his leadership under the NDC would put Nigeria back on the path to economic recovery.
“Hope is on the way,” the party stated, urging Nigerians to support Obi and other NDC candidates in the next general election.
It called on voters to turn out en masse on January 16, 2027, to vote out the APC-led government.
The Federal Government’s petrol discount announcement is aimed at providing temporary relief to consumers, with public transport operators designated as priority beneficiaries during the initial 30-day period.