Tinubu’s fuel relief plan: Lagos APC slams opposition’s criticism

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a swipe at opposition leaders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and allies of Peter Obi, over their criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s planned 30-day petrol discount, accusing them of playing politics with Nigerians’ economic hardship instead of offering workable solutions.

The party said the opposition should focus on providing practical solutions to the country’s economic challenges instead of dismissing measures aimed at reducing the burden of rising fuel prices.

The Lagos APC spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, made the position known in a statement on Friday, October 9, following criticism of the Federal Government’s plan to offer petrol discounts at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) filling stations.

Under the arrangement, NNPC retail outlets are expected to forgo their profit margins on petrol sales for 30 days to provide temporary relief to consumers. Public transport operators will receive priority under the initiative.

Oladejo argued that the rising cost of petrol had affected transportation, food prices, household budgets and business operations, making it necessary for political leaders to support credible efforts to ease the pressure on Nigerians.

“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,” he said.

The APC spokesman described the criticism of the initiative as political opportunism, arguing that opposition parties should offer workable alternatives if they believe the proposed discount would not provide meaningful relief.

He challenged the critics to explain what they would do differently, how they would fund their proposals and how quickly their alternatives would benefit Nigerians.

“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,” Oladejo said.

The party also rejected suggestions that the initiative should automatically be regarded as a return to fuel subsidy, insisting that the policy should be assessed based on its structure, financing and expected benefits.

The reaction followed criticism from former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Obidient Movement, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the presidential campaign organisation of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

The critics have questioned the effectiveness of the proposed discount, with concerns that a temporary reduction in petrol prices may not adequately address the financial difficulties Nigerians have faced since the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023.

However, the Lagos APC maintained that the limited duration of the intervention was not sufficient reason to dismiss it, arguing that short-term measures could provide some relief while the government pursued broader economic reforms.

The Federal Government announced the planned discount on Thursday as part of efforts to cushion the impact of rising global crude oil prices on Nigerians.

The initiative is expected to allow NNPC retail stations to sell petrol at reduced prices by temporarily giving up their retail profit margins.

President Tinubu ended the petrol subsidy regime on May 29, 2023, a decision that contributed to a sharp increase in fuel prices and raised transportation and living costs across the country.

Since then, households and businesses have faced higher expenses, with increases in transport fares and operating costs affecting the prices of goods and services.

While defending the latest intervention, the Lagos APC acknowledged that the 30-day discount would not, on its own, resolve Nigeria’s wider cost-of-living challenges.

Oladejo called for additional measures to stabilise prices, improve domestic refining and fuel distribution, reduce transportation costs and support businesses and households.

He also stressed the importance of transparency in implementing the discount, urging the government to ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the benefits.

The party further called on the Federal Government to explain what would happen after the 30-day period and outline additional measures to address the factors driving high living costs.

According to the APC, temporary interventions have a role in economic management when households and businesses face immediate pressure, but their effectiveness should be judged by how they are implemented and the results they deliver.

The party urged opposition leaders to engage in constructive criticism and present realistic alternatives, maintaining that Nigerians needed practical solutions to their economic difficulties rather than political arguments.