FCT Residents Divided Over NNPC’s N66 Petrol Discount As Deadline Nears
Motorists and commuters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed mixed reactions to the N66-per-litre petrol discount introduced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), with some praising the initiative while others question its impact on transportation costs.
The reactions come as the October 31 deadline for the 30-day discount programme approaches, amid continued concerns over rising fuel prices and the high cost of daily commuting.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government introduced the initiative to provide relief to Nigerians, with public transport operators given priority under the arrangement.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, clarified that the intervention was not a return to petrol subsidy. He also disclosed that the government was negotiating a ceiling of N1,350 per litre on the ex-gantry or landing cost of petrol to reduce sharp fluctuations in pump prices.
Meanwhile, Dangote Petroleum Refinery reduced its gantry price of petrol by N25 per litre, from N1,350 to N1,325.
A motorist residing in Wuse, Abubakar Saidu, commended the Federal Government for introducing the discount, although he identified challenges affecting access to the programme.
Saidu explained that he purchased petrol through the designated application at N1,339 per litre but sometimes encountered long queues at retail outlets. He also noted that network problems prevented some Nigerians from benefiting from the initiative.
“I downloaded the app and followed the procedure before buying the petrol at N1,339 per litre,” he said.
However, a commuter living in Nyanya, Obi Anyawu, said the intervention had failed to produce a noticeable reduction in transportation fares.
According to him, commuters continue to struggle with increasing transport costs despite the government’s efforts to ease the burden.
“The transportation fare keeps increasing, and there has not been any difference,” Anyawu said.
Similarly, Stephanie Okoro, a commuter residing in Karu, said the discount had not significantly improved access to affordable transportation.
She explained that many workers continued to face difficulties meeting their daily commuting expenses, with some passengers reportedly stranded at bus stops because of high fares.
“I have not benefited from the intervention, and I have not seen any positive impact it has, even among the transporters,” she said.
Okoro added that the cost of transportation remained a major challenge for residents trying to travel to work daily.
Another motorist, Jide Oyetola, who lives in Bwari, called for a comprehensive review of the programme and additional measures to address the economic pressures facing Nigerians.
Oyetola said the rising cost of transportation was affecting workers’ ability to maintain regular attendance at their workplaces, particularly those whose salaries were no longer sufficient to cover commuting expenses.
He cited the experience of his secretary, who had reportedly considered reducing the number of days she reported to work because of the cost of transportation.
He said even waiting for cheaper buses had failed to provide a sustainable solution to the problem.
Oyetola urged the government to consider broader interventions capable of reducing transportation costs and easing the financial burden on households.
Also speaking, Nonye Obanla, a commuter residing in Dutse, called on the Federal Government to explore additional measures to make transportation more affordable for residents.
The mixed reactions highlight concerns over whether the temporary petrol discount can translate into meaningful relief for commuters, particularly as rising transport fares continue to strain household incomes across the FCT.
