As the October 31 deadline draws near, residents and public transport passengers in the Federal Capital Territory have shared mixed feelings regarding the N66-per-litre petrol discount introduced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. During interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday, some citizens praised the intervention, while others voiced concerns regarding its actual effectiveness.
NAN reports that the Federal Government announced a 30-day discount on petrol sold by the NNPC Ltd., with public transport operators to receive priority under the arrangement. Mr Taiwo Oyedele, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said the arrangement was not a return to petrol subsidy.
The minister said the government was also negotiating a ceiling of N1, 350 per litre on the ex-gantry or landing cost of petrol in an effort to reduce sharp fluctuations in pump prices.
NAN reports that Dangote Petroleum Refinery cut its gantry petrol price by N25 per litre from N1,350 to N1,325.
Mr Abubakar Saidu, a motorist who resides at Wuse, commended the Federal Government for the discount offered at NNPC Ltd. retail outlets.
Saidu stated that he purchased petrol through the app but sometimes had to wait in long queues before accessing the product.
He said that many Nigerians were unable to benefit from the discount due to network challenges.
“I downloaded the app and followed the procedure before buying the petrol at N1,339 per litre,” he said.
Another commuter who resides at Nyanya, Mr Obi Anyawu, said the intervention had not translated into lower transport fares.
Anyawu said the intervention had failed to ease the burden of high transportation costs on Nigerians.
According to him, commuters are still struggling to afford daily transportation to work.
“The transportation fare keeps increasing and there has not been any difference,” he said.
Mrs Stephanie Okoro, a commuter who resides at Karu, said commuters were still struggling to afford daily transportation to work.
“I have not benefited from the intervention and I have not seen any positive impact it has, even among the transporters.
“Commuters continue to face difficulties accessing affordable transportation with many stranded at bus stops due to high fares,” she said.
Mr Jide Oyetola, a motorist who resides at Bwari, called for a comprehensive review of the intervention and the introduction of additional measures to alleviate the hardship faced by Nigerians.
Oyetola urged the government to explore alternative measures to reduce transportation costs and ease the economic burden on citizens.
“My secretary recently complained that her salary can no longer cover her transportation expenses. “She said she might not be able to come to work five days a week because her salary can no longer cover her transportation costs.
“Even if she waits for a cheaper bus every morning, the situation will still not be manageable. You cannot blame her. I am sure she is not alone in that plight,” he said.
He said it forced her to consider reducing the number of days she would report to work.
Mrs Nonye Obanla, a commuter who resides at Dutse, urged the government to explore alternative measures to reduce transportation costs and ease the economic burden on citizens.(NAN)
What You Should Know
The federal government introduced a 30-day petrol discount via NNPC Ltd. retail outlets, giving priority to public transport operators, alongside ongoing negotiations to cap the landing cost of fuel.
- Positive Impact: Offers financial relief and lower pump prices for motorists who successfully navigate the app-buying process and access the discounted fuel.
- Potential Concerns: Many commuters report that the discount has failed to reduce transport fares, while network issues and long queues make the app difficult for everyday citizens to use.
