Lagos APC Criticizes Opposition's Rejection of Petrol Discount

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has slammed opposition parties for saying no to the Federal Government’s plan for a 30-day petrol discount. They called the response disappointing and politically driven.

The party accused the opposition of putting "political point-scoring over the welfare of Nigerians struggling with rising transportation and living costs".

Lagos APC spokesman, Seye Oladejo, made these comments in a statement released on Friday. He was talking about the Federal Government’s plan to roll out the temporary discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited outlets, with public transport operators getting priority.

Oladejo said the opposition should support efforts to lighten the load on Nigerians and suggest ways to make the plan better.

He stated, "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 continued, "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 campaign team of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde have all rejected the proposed discount. They say it is not enough and politically motivated.

On Thursday, the Federal Government announced that NNPC Limited would give up its retail profit on petrol to sell it at a lower price. This is part of efforts to help Nigerians cope with rising global crude oil prices.

The Presidency stated that this plan, backed by President Bola Tinubu, is not a return to the petrol subsidy system that ended on May 29, 2023.

In response to claims that the discount is just a way to bring back fuel subsidy, the Lagos APC urged the opposition to look closely at how the policy works and how it is funded instead of just throwing around political labels.

They said critics should show proof of financial irresponsibility or legal issues, noting that throwing around accusations without proper analysis does not count as serious economic critique.

The party agreed that a 30-day discount alone won’t solve Nigeria’s cost-of-living problems. They urged the Federal Government to keep working on stabilizing prices, improving local refining and distribution, cutting logistics costs, supporting public transport, providing affordable credit, and boosting household purchasing power.

Oladejo emphasized the need for the government to be open about how the discount will be carried out. He said it should check that the benefits reach the right people and inform citizens about what will happen after the plan ends.

He challenged the opposition to suggest real alternatives if they think the intervention is not enough.

"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," he said.

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

The Lagos APC recognized that worries about how long the intervention will last and what happens after the 30 days are valid. But they said this should not stop people from seeing the immediate relief it could offer.

Oladejo urged the government to communicate its plans for ending the intervention, how they will review it, and other measures to keep prices stable.

"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 called on politicians to stop using public worries for their own gain as the country heads into another election period. They insisted that economic problems need real solutions, not political drama.