The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticised the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day discount on petrol sold through NNPC Limited retail outlets, describing the measure as “tokenism and deceit” aimed at disguising the impact of the government’s fuel subsidy removal.
The opposition party, in a statement issued on Thursday, October 8, 2026, said the temporary discount announced by the Federal Government was inadequate to address the economic hardship Nigerians have experienced since the removal of petrol subsidy.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, had announced that the government would offer a discount on petrol dispensed by NNPC Limited for an initial period of 30 days, with public transport operators given priority.
Oyedele explained that the arrangement was not a subsidy, but an intervention under which the government would sell petrol at cost.
Reacting to the announcement, the NDC described the policy as a “Greek gift” from an administration which, according to the party, removed fuel subsidy without adequate consultation, planning or measures to cushion its impact on citizens.
“Nigerians cannot be deceived,” the party said, questioning what it described as the wider consequences of the subsidy removal on households, businesses and public services.
The NDC argued that the government’s intervention came too late for millions of Nigerians who, according to the party, had lost jobs or seen their businesses collapse as a result of rising transportation, energy and operating costs.
It also raised concerns about the state of public healthcare, alleging that inadequate funding and poor facilities had contributed to avoidable deaths in government hospitals.
The party accused President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of becoming increasingly desperate in its response to the country’s economic challenges.
According to the NDC, the temporary petrol discount amounts to an attempt to reintroduce subsidy “through the backdoor” after the government had repeatedly defended the removal of the policy.
The opposition party further questioned the practicality of restricting the discounted petrol to designated NNPC retail outlets, particularly given Nigeria’s large population and the uneven distribution of filling stations across the country.
“How many such outlets exist in Nigeria to serve over 200 million Nigerians?” the party asked, warning that concentrating demand at selected filling stations could create long queues and potentially expose motorists and commuters to safety risks.
The NDC said the Federal Government needed to provide clearer answers about the sustainability, scope and implementation of the 30-day intervention.
It maintained that the announcement was evidence, in its view, that the government was struggling to contain the economic consequences of its earlier policy decisions.
The party described the situation as evidence of what it called the failure of “Emilokanomics”, a reference to the political slogan associated with President Tinubu, and accused the APC administration of lacking a coherent strategy to address Nigeria’s economic difficulties.
However, the NDC said it believed Nigerians could change the country’s direction through the 2027 general elections.
The party promoted its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as the alternative to the APC administration, saying an NDC government would seek to restore the economy and place Nigeria on a more sustainable development path.
“Hope is on the way,” the statement declared, urging Nigerians to support Obi and other NDC candidates at the polls.
The party called on Nigerians to participate actively in the 2027 elections and vote for its candidates, saying the election would provide an opportunity to change the direction of the country.
The statement was signed by Osa Director, National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
The NDC’s criticism comes amid continued debate over the Federal Government’s handling of petrol pricing following the removal of subsidy in May 2023.
While the government maintains that its latest intervention is not a return to subsidy but a temporary mechanism to sell petrol at cost, opposition parties and other critics have continued to question the sustainability and broader impact of the government’s economic policies.
The NDC said Nigerians should therefore scrutinise the government’s latest announcement and judge the administration by the broader economic realities facing households and businesses.
The party also reiterated its campaign message that “A New Nigeria is POssible” under Peter Obi and the NDC.
