Lagos APC Knocks Opposition Over Rejection Of Tinubu’s 30-Day Fuel Discount

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised opposition parties for rejecting the federal government’s proposed 30-day petrol discount, challenging them to present clear and workable alternatives to ease the rising cost of living.

The party accused the opposition of placing political considerations above the welfare of Nigerians battling increasing transportation costs and other economic pressures.

The Lagos APC spokesman, Seye Oladejo, stated this in a statement issued on Friday while reacting to the rejection of the proposed intervention by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Obidient Movement, the Nigeria Democratic Congress and the presidential campaign organisation of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

The opposition groups had described the planned discount as inadequate and politically motivated.

Oladejo said opposition parties should acknowledge efforts aimed at providing immediate relief to Nigerians while offering constructive recommendations on how to improve the initiative.

“At a time when Nigerians are grappling with the impact of rising petrol prices on transportation, food prices, household budgets and business operations, one would ordinarily expect a responsible opposition to welcome any credible intervention aimed at easing the burden on citizens, while offering constructive suggestions for improvement.

“Instead, we are confronted with the familiar spectacle of political opportunism masquerading as economic criticism,” he said.

LEADERSHIP reports that the Federal Government announced on Thursday that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) would forgo its retail profit margin on petrol for 30 days to enable consumers to purchase the product at a reduced price.

The initiative, backed by President Bola Tinubu, is intended to cushion the impact of global crude oil price shocks on Nigerians, with public transport operators given priority.

The Presidency has maintained that the arrangement does not amount to a return to the petrol subsidy regime, which ended on May 29, 2023.

Reacting to concerns that the intervention could represent a return to fuel subsidy through the back door, the Lagos APC urged opposition parties to examine the policy’s structure and financing rather than dismiss it through political labels.

The party said critics should provide evidence of fiscal irresponsibility or legal irregularities, arguing that allegations made without a thorough assessment of the policy do not constitute substantive economic analysis.

However, the APC acknowledged that the 30-day discount alone would not resolve Nigeria’s broader cost-of-living challenges.

It called on the Federal Government to sustain efforts to stabilise prices, improve domestic refining and fuel distribution, reduce logistics costs, support public transportation, expand access to affordable credit and strengthen household purchasing power.

Oladejo also stressed the need for transparency in implementing the initiative, urging the government to ensure that the benefits reach the intended beneficiaries and communicate its plans for the period after the discount expires.

He challenged opposition parties to explain what they would do differently if they considered the proposed intervention inadequate.

“If the opposition believes the 30-day arrangement is inadequate, let it tell Nigerians precisely what it would do differently, how it would finance its proposal and how quickly its alternative would produce tangible benefits.

“Nigerians deserve more than slogans, cynical commentary and the perpetual conversion of economic hardship into campaign material,” he said.

The Lagos APC added that concerns about the sustainability of the discount and the measures to be adopted after the 30-day period were legitimate.

However, it argued that such concerns should not be used to dismiss the immediate relief the initiative could provide to households and businesses.

The party urged the Federal Government to clearly communicate its exit strategy, the criteria for reviewing the intervention and complementary measures to support price stability.

“Temporary interventions have a legitimate place in economic management, particularly when households and businesses are under immediate pressure. Their value should be judged by their design, implementation, affordability and outcomes—not dismissed simply because they have a defined duration,” Oladejo said.

The party further urged political actors to avoid exploiting public concerns for partisan advantage as the country approaches another election cycle.

It maintained that the economic challenges facing Nigerians required practical proposals and sustainable policies rather than political exchanges over government interventions.