Nigerian Government Defends NNPC Petrol Discount, Says It Is Not Subsidy Return

The Federal Government has rejected suggestions that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s 30-day petrol discount amounts to bringing back the fuel subsidy. Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris made the government’s position known while speaking at a media session with senior editors and journalists in Abuja. Idris said NNPC Limited decided to give up part of its commercial earnings in order to reduce the burden that high energy prices place on consumers. He said, “The NNPC has looked at it and said we are making this much profit. Why can’t we forgo some of the profit that we are making, so that Nigerians will have some form of cushioning?” The initiative has faced criticism from opposition politicians, labour leaders, and civil society groups, who have raised questions about how long it will last, its coverage, and its possible economic effects. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar publicly attacked the measure, describing it as a political intervention meant to offer temporary relief before the 2027 general elections. Atiku also asked whether NNPC Limited’s board properly approved the initiative and how its financial cost would be treated within the company’s commercial structure. Further objections came from Trade Union Congress President Festus Osifo and Social Democratic Party presidential candidate Adewole Adeboye. They questioned how far the discount could actually reach, noting that NNPC retail stations make up only a small share of filling outlets across the country. In response, Idris said the federal administration will continue to pursue structural economic reforms while prioritizing the welfare of citizens. He said volatility in global energy markets continues to test economies around the world, leading governments to adopt different responses. “Our approach is to consolidate the gains of these reforms, expand affordable energy alternatives, strengthen domestic production and create the conditions for sustainable reductions in the cost of living,” the minister said.