Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has questioned the federal government’s 30-day petrol discount scheme at Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited retail stations, demanding clarity on who will bear the financial cost of the reduction.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign council, Atiku stated that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was turning the discount into a political spectacle at the expense of NNPC Limited. He argued that the administration wanted credit for the discount without showing board approval, the exact cost, or the specific account that would absorb the deficit.
Atiku questioned whether the government had followed appropriate corporate procedures under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), noting that NNPC Limited operates as a commercial entity rather than a traditional state corporation. He asked whether the government was exercising its shareholder rights through proper corporate channels or treating the company as a source of campaign funds.
The former Vice-President also accused the administration of inconsistency, pointing out that officials frequently invoke market forces when citizens demand cheaper fuel, but reach into NNPC margins whenever the presidency requires favorable headlines.
Furthermore, Atiku criticized the logistical reach of the initiative, arguing that NNPC Retail’s network of just over 900 filling stations is inadequate to deliver meaningful relief to a nation of roughly 242 million people. He questioned whether motorists would save enough to justify burning fuel travelling to designated stations, waiting in queues, and using an app to access the discount.
Concluding his remarks, Atiku demanded transparency regarding whether the NNPC board approved the arrangement before its public announcement. He also rejected the administration’s stance that the initiative does not constitute a return to the petrol subsidy, asserting that changing the description of a cost does not make it disappear.
