Peter Obi faults Tinubu’s one-month petrol discount, calls policy ‘reactive and confused’

Economy & Policy, Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government’s one-month petrol discount, describing the initiative as a reactive approach to governance that fails to address the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

Obi, in a statement issued on Sunday titled “One Month Discount on Petrol: From Reactive Policies to Flawed Outcomes!”, said the 30-day discount announced by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration was an inadequate response to the hardship and rising cost of living following the removal of fuel subsidy.

He argued that the policy’s limited coverage would prevent most Nigerians from benefiting, as the discount would reportedly be available at about 900 Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) retail stations out of an estimated 24,000 filling stations nationwide.

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According to Obi, this represents less than four per cent of petrol stations in the country, leaving millions of Nigerians without direct access to the price reduction.

“Imagine 243,000 Nigerians struggling for a N66.00 per litre discount in each of the NNPC petrol stations. This is certainly not how to govern a richly blessed and endowed nation!” he said.

The former Anambra State governor questioned the rationale behind limiting the intervention to 30 days, asking whether it was designed to reduce poverty, unemployment and insecurity or serve as a political strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obi also criticised the implementation of the government’s economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy, the floating of the naira and tax reforms, arguing that they had been poorly sequenced and implemented without adequate consultation or assessment of their effects on ordinary Nigerians.

He linked the policies to rising inflation, higher prices of goods and services, declining business activity, unemployment, widening inequality and worsening living conditions.

Describing the petrol discount as “plain political optics masked as policy,” Obi said the government should focus on sustainable measures to reduce the cost of living rather than introduce temporary interventions.

He called for a comprehensive assessment of government policies and wider consultations with stakeholders and citizens to develop inclusive economic strategies capable of improving productivity and living standards.

Obi also reiterated his position that fuel subsidy should be restored, alongside targeted support for agriculture, healthcare, education and infrastructure.

He said his proposed approach would be backed by research into Nigeria’s revenue capacity and the potential for increased public revenue under a productive, transparent and accountable government.

The NDC presidential candidate maintained that effective leadership should prioritise policies that deliver lasting economic relief, improve access to essential services and strengthen the welfare of Nigerians.