Atiku and ADC criticize proposed 30-day petrol discount

Nigeria’s government has proposed a 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stations, with public transport operators given priority, prompting criticism from presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council. Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele said the arrangement would allow the state-owned oil company to sell petrol at cost during the period. He said it was not a return to the petrol subsidy that the government had removed. The announcement did not specify the amount motorists would save per litre. Atiku, the ADC candidate, challenged the proposal in a statement issued by campaign communication director Phrank Shaibu. He described the measure as temporary and argued that a month of discounted fuel would not resolve the wider effects of high fuel prices on transport and household costs. He also questioned whether any savings for public transport operators would result in lower fares for passengers. Atiku asked what would happen when the 30 days ended, arguing that consumers could again face high fuel and transport costs.