Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government has announced a 30-day discount on petrol sold through NNPC Limited, with public transporters given priority in a fresh attempt to ease pressure on transport fares and household costs.
Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced the measure on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja on fuel prices and related government interventions.
Oyedele said the arrangement would initially run for 30 days and would prioritise public transport operators nationwide. “We are offering a discount on petrol dispensed by NNPC Limited for the next 30 days in the first instance, with priority for public transporters nationwide. It is not a subsidy. The government is saying we will sell to you at cost price,” he said.
The government’s immediate focus is on easing the fuel-cost burden on buses, taxis and other commercial transport operators, whose operating costs feed directly into fares paid by commuters.
By reducing the cost of petrol supplied under the arrangement, the government hopes to moderate some of the pressure currently being felt across the public transportation system.
The announcement comes as the government faces continued pressure over the impact of petrol prices on transportation, household expenses and the wider cost of living.
Oyedele maintained that the measure should not be interpreted as a return to the former blanket fuel subsidy regime, describing it instead as a temporary arrangement under which the government would sell petrol at cost.
The minister did not initially disclose the exact amount of the discount or a new pump price for consumers under the arrangement.
The government is also considering longer-term measures to reduce exposure to international price volatility, including arrangements around crude supply and domestic refining.
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