… Opposition party slams FG’s petrol discount as ‘Greek Gift’, warns of stampede

The New Nigeria Development Congress (NDC) has attacked President Bola Tinubu’s 30-day petrol discount, describing it as a token gesture that offers little relief to Nigerians battered by soaring living costs.

The opposition party warned that restricting discounted petrol sales to designated filling stations could trigger overcrowding and stampedes, questioning whether NNPC outlets had the capacity to serve millions of struggling Nigerians.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, the NDC’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, described the initiative as a “Greek gift”, arguing that the government had failed to adequately prepare Nigerians for the economic consequences of fuel subsidy removal.

The party said a temporary price reduction could not compensate for the wider hardship confronting households and businesses since the removal of the subsidy.

It questioned what the Federal Government had done to support Nigerians who had lost their jobs, shut down businesses or struggled to meet basic needs following the policy change.

The NDC also drew attention to the pressure of rising living costs on citizens who depend on public hospitals and other essential services.

It further questioned the capacity of NNPC filling stations nationwide to accommodate the expected demand, warning that concentrating discounted petrol sales at selected outlets could create dangerous crowds.

Beyond the practical concerns, the party accused the Tinubu administration of attempting to reintroduce fuel subsidy through the backdoor.

The government, however, has described the arrangement as a cost-price measure rather than a return to the former subsidy regime.

The NDC insisted that Nigerians needed lasting economic solutions rather than temporary interventions that offered limited relief without addressing the underlying causes of hardship.

The party urged Nigerians to support its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other NDC candidates in the January 16, 2027 general election, arguing that a change in leadership would put the country on a path to economic recovery.