ATIKU QUESTIONS TINUBU’S ₦66 PETROL DISCOUNT, DEMANDS ANSWERS ON NNPC’S FINANCIAL SACRIFICE

By NaijaParrot October 11, 2026 

 ABUJA, NIGERIA —

African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the ₦66-per-litre petrol discount introduced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), questioning whether the temporary relief offers meaningful help to Nigerians struggling with rising living costs. Atiku accused the President of seeking public applause for the reduction without adequately explaining who authorised the arrangement, how the cost would be accounted for and how many Nigerians could benefit from it. The former Vice President’s criticism comes amid renewed public concern over petrol prices and their impact on transportation, food costs and businesses.

In a statement issued through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku challenged the government to disclose the financial and administrative details behind the discount. He questioned whether NNPC’s board approved the arrangement and how the company would reflect the reduction in its accounts. Atiku also argued that the relief was limited in scope, particularly because motorists reportedly needed to use the NNPC Fuel App and make digital payments to access the reduced price at participating stations. The ADC candidate maintained that Nigerians needed a sustainable response to high fuel prices rather than a temporary measure that would expire without resolving the broader cost-of-living challenges. 

NNPC introduced the ₦66-per-litre discount on October 1, 2026, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary. The company subsequently extended the promotion until October 31 across its retail stations nationwide. The Federal Government has said the arrangement is intended to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices. Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele explained that NNPC Retail would reduce its retail profit margin to provide the discount, rather than receive direct reimbursement from the government. However, a report by Punch found that customers visiting selected NNPC stations in Abuja had to use the company’s mobile application and pay digitally to receive the reduction. At the outlets visited, petrol was reportedly sold for ₦1,405 per litre to customers paying directly at the pump, compared with ₦1,339 per litre for customers using the application. The findings relate to the stations inspected and should not be taken as proof of identical prices at every outlet nationwide.

 Atiku has advocated a different form of intervention, proposing targeted production support for qualifying petroleum products refined in Nigeria. Under his proposal, support would be capped, included in the budget and subjected to independent auditing, with the stated aim of helping reduce fuel costs while supporting domestic refining. He has argued that assistance should be structured transparently, with clear information about the cost to public finances and the savings expected for consumers. The details of the proposed scheme, including its final funding formula and spending limits, would need to be established before its potential impact could be assessed. The Tinubu administration, meanwhile, maintains that the NNPC discount is a temporary customer-relief initiative and does not amount to a return to the former petrol subsidy system. 

 The dispute has drawn attention to two central questions: how widely the discount can be accessed and whether the financial arrangements are sufficiently transparent. Motorists without smartphones or convenient digital-payment options may face additional difficulties accessing the offer if app-based payment remains a requirement. Questions have also been raised about whether savings at the pump will translate into lower transport fares and reduced costs for goods and services. Atiku has called on the administration to explain the basis of the arrangement and provide greater transparency about its financial implications. The government’s position is that the discount is being funded through NNPC Retail’s margin rather than direct public-budget payments. A full assessment of the measure would require clear information on eligible sales, actual savings delivered to customers and the effect on the company’s earnings. 

 With the discount scheduled to run until October 31, the longer-term question is whether Nigerians will continue to receive relief after the promotion ends. Atiku has argued that temporary discounts cannot replace a broader strategy for addressing fuel affordability and the wider cost-of-living crisis. The debate reflects a difference between the government’s short-term retail discount and the ADC candidate’s proposed production-support model. Their respective costs, reach and long-term effects will depend on how each arrangement is funded, implemented and monitored. 

 NaijaParrot will continue to follow developments surrounding petrol prices, the NNPC discount and proposals aimed at easing the burden on Nigerian households and businesses. 

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