Criticism of Tinubu’s petrol relief disappointing — Lagos APC
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has criticised opposition parties for rejecting the Federal Government’s proposed 30-day petrol discount, describing their reaction as disappointing and politically motivated.
The party accused the opposition of prioritising “political point-scoring over the welfare of Nigerians struggling with rising transportation and living costs”.
The Lagos APC spokesman, Seye Oladejo, stated this in a statement issued on Friday while commenting on the Federal Government’s plan to introduce the temporary discount through Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited retail outlets, with priority given to public transport operators.
Oladejo said the opposition should welcome efforts to ease the burden on Nigerians while offering constructive suggestions to improve the initiative.
He said, “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.”
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Obidient Movement, the Nigeria Democratic Congress and the presidential campaign organisation of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde have rejected the proposed discount, describing it as inadequate and politically motivated.
The Federal Government announced on Thursday that NNPC Limited would forgo its retail profit margin on petrol to sell the product at a discounted price as part of measures to cushion Nigerians against global crude oil price shocks.
The Presidency said the arrangement, backed by President Bola Tinubu, was not a return to the petrol subsidy regime, which ended on May 29, 2023.
Addressing allegations that the discount amounted to a return of fuel subsidy through the back door, the Lagos APC urged the opposition to examine the policy’s structure and financing rather than rely on political labels.
It said critics should present evidence of fiscal irresponsibility or legal irregularities, adding that allegations made without a thorough examination of the policy did not amount to serious economic analysis.
The party acknowledged, however, that the 30-day discount alone could not resolve Nigeria’s cost-of-living challenges. It urged the Federal Government to sustain efforts to stabilise prices, improve domestic refining and distribution, reduce logistics costs, support public transportation, expand access to affordable credit and strengthen household purchasing power.
Oladejo said the government must ensure transparency in implementing the discount, verify that its benefits reached the intended beneficiaries and communicate measures to be taken after the initiative expires.
He challenged the opposition to propose workable alternatives if it considered the 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 said concerns about the sustainability of the intervention and what would happen after the 30-day period were legitimate, but should not be used to dismiss the immediate relief it could provide.
Oladejo urged the government to communicate its exit strategy, the criteria for reviewing the intervention and complementary measures to promote 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,” he said.
The party urged political actors to avoid exploiting public concerns for partisan advantage as the country approaches another election cycle, insisting that economic hardship required practical solutions rather than political theatrics.
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