The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has criticised opposition parties for rejecting the Federal Government’s proposed 30-day petrol discount, accusing them of putting political interests ahead of the welfare of Nigerians.
The party said the opposition was prioritising “political point-scoring over the welfare of Nigerians struggling with rising transportation and living costs”.
Lagos APC spokesman, Seye Oladejo, stated this in a statement issued on Friday while reacting to the Federal Government’s plan to introduce a temporary petrol discount through Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited retail outlets, with public transport operators expected to receive priority.
Oladejo argued that opposition parties should welcome initiatives aimed at reducing the financial burden on citizens while offering practical recommendations to improve their implementation.
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 waive its retail profit margin on petrol to offer the product at a reduced price as part of efforts to shield Nigerians from global crude oil price shocks.
The Presidency said the initiative, backed by President Bola Tinubu, did not amount to a return to the petrol subsidy regime, which was abolished on May 29, 2023.
Responding to claims that the discount represented a disguised return of fuel subsidy, the Lagos APC urged opposition parties to scrutinise the policy’s structure and funding rather than dismiss it through political labels.
The party said critics should provide evidence of fiscal irresponsibility or legal violations, arguing that allegations made without a detailed assessment of the policy did not constitute sound economic analysis.
However, the APC acknowledged that the 30-day intervention alone would not resolve Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis. It called on the Federal Government to sustain efforts to stabilise prices, expand domestic refining and distribution, lower logistics costs, support public transportation, improve access to affordable credit and strengthen household purchasing power.
Oladejo also stressed the need for transparency in implementing the discount, insisting that the government must ensure the benefits reach the intended recipients and clearly communicate its plans after the initiative expires.
He challenged opposition parties to present practical alternatives if they believed the intervention was insufficient.
“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 acknowledged that concerns over the sustainability of the discount and the measures to follow its expiration were legitimate. However, it argued that such concerns should not overshadow the immediate relief the initiative could provide.
Oladejo urged the Federal Government to explain its exit strategy, outline the criteria for reviewing the intervention and announce 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 further urged political stakeholders to avoid exploiting public hardship for partisan gain as the country approaches another election cycle, maintaining that Nigeria’s economic challenges required practical solutions rather than political theatrics.
