The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged opposition parties to propose practical alternatives to the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount initiative, insisting that immediate relief for Nigerians must go hand in hand with sustainable economic solutions.
In a statement issued by its spokesman, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, the party said the initiative, implemented through Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) retail outlets with priority given to public transport operators, deserved an objective assessment based on its implementation and impact.
The Lagos APC noted that rising petrol prices continue to affect transportation fares, food prices, household budgets and business operations, making practical measures to ease the burden on citizens necessary.
It explained that the Federal Government had presented the 30-day arrangement as a temporary, targeted margin discount rather than a return to the former blanket fuel subsidy regime.
However, the party acknowledged that questions surrounding the initiative’s financing, transparency and sustainability required clear answers. It urged the Federal Government to explain how the discount would be funded, how beneficiaries would be identified and what measures would follow the programme’s expiration.
On concerns that the arrangement could amount to a return of fuel subsidy through the back door, the APC called for an examination of the policy’s structure, including its fiscal implications and safeguards against abuse.
It maintained that accountability and fiscal responsibility must remain central to economic policymaking, while stressing that the temporary nature of the intervention did not automatically negate its potential to provide immediate relief.
Beyond the petrol discount, the party called for sustained efforts to stabilise prices, improve domestic refining and fuel distribution, reduce logistics costs, strengthen public transportation and expand access to affordable credit.
It also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to pursue these objectives with urgency and ensure that its policies deliver measurable improvements in Nigerians’ living conditions.
The Lagos APC challenged opposition parties that consider the initiative inadequate to explain what they would do differently, how their proposals would be financed and how quickly they could deliver tangible benefits.
As the country approaches another election cycle, the party urged political actors to approach economic hardship with seriousness and empathy, emphasising the need for constructive engagement and workable solutions rather than partisan point-scoring.
While welcoming the petrol discount as a step towards immediate relief, the APC stressed that its success would depend on transparent implementation, verifiable benefits and clear communication of the government’s plans beyond the 30-day period.
“Our position is straightforward: support what helps Nigerians, scrutinise what requires scrutiny and improve what needs improvement,” the statement said.
Oladejo added that constructive opposition should focus on presenting better solutions that address citizens’ concerns.
“Nigeria deserves the former,” he concluded.
