Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has faulted the Federal Government’s petrol discount scheme, questioning its affordability, accessibility and the process through which the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited was directed to implement it.
Atiku said the administration of President Bola Tinubu needed to explain how the discount would be funded and whether the NNPC board approved the decision before its announcement.
He also questioned the reach of the scheme, arguing that motorists living far from NNPC retail outlets might struggle to benefit from the initiative.
Atiku’s position was contained in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council.
The former vice-president described the discount as a political spectacle, accusing the administration of seeking public applause without providing sufficient details about its financial implications.
“Who pays for Tinubu’s applause?” Atiku asked, demanding transparency on the cost of the initiative and the accounts through which it would be recorded.
He argued that the Petroleum Industry Act established NNPC Limited as a commercial entity, insisting that any decision affecting its margins should follow proper corporate procedures.
“Is the government exercising its rights as shareholder through proper corporate channels, or treating NNPC Limited as a drawer of campaign money it can open whenever an election approaches?” he asked.
Atiku also criticised what he described as the administration’s inconsistent approach to petrol pricing.
He said government officials had repeatedly invoked market forces to explain high petrol prices but were now presenting a discount as relief for Nigerians.
The former presidential candidate further questioned the scheme’s accessibility, citing the distribution of NNPC retail stations across the country.
He argued that motorists might have to travel long distances, queue for fuel and use a designated application to access the discount.
“What happens to the family whose nearest NNPC station is miles away? What happens when a station runs out of petrol?” he asked.
Atiku maintained that a discount available only at selected outlets could leave many Nigerians without meaningful relief.
He also demanded to know whether the NNPC board had approved the scheme, what financial assessments were conducted and how the company would account for any reduction in its margins.
The former vice-president rejected the argument that the initiative was not a subsidy, saying a change in terminology did not eliminate the underlying cost.
He recalled Tinubu’s criticism of his proposal for a transparent production subsidy, arguing that the current discount scheme raised similar questions about targeted relief for consumers.
Atiku said Nigerians needed a broader solution to the cost of petrol rather than a temporary discount that required motorists to meet additional conditions.
He called for measures that would make fuel more affordable and accessible across the country.
However, the statement did not include a response from the Presidency or NNPC Limited to the questions raised by Atiku.
The issues surrounding the scheme, including its financial arrangements, coverage and implementation, remain central to the debate over how the government can provide relief to motorists amid high fuel costs.
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