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Tinubu’s fuel discount a ‘Failed Media Stunt’ Makinde camp says

The Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation has criticised the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount, describing it as a “failed media stunt” that offers little relief to Nigerians struggling with high fuel prices. The campaign organisation of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, said the temporary measure fell short of expectations for a significant reduction in petrol prices. In a statement signed by its Director of Strategic Communications, Richard Ihediwa, the organisation described the discount as an “offensive and provocative attempt to beguile Nigerians”. The group argued that Nigerians deserved a more substantial reduction, questioning why the government was offering what it described as a mere ₦60 discount after significant increases in petrol prices. Makinde Camp Faults 30-Day Limit The organisation also criticised the decision to restrict the discount to 30 days, arguing that the measure would not provide lasting relief to households and businesses facing rising living costs. It further questioned the limited availability of NNPC-owned filling stations, claiming that the arrangement would prevent many Nigerians from benefiting from the discount. “The fact that the minuscule reduction will only be on scantly located NNPC-owned retail filling stations and for a period of one month clearly shows that the Tinubu administration has come to its wits end and become bereft of solutions,” the statement said. The campaign organisation also faulted the Federal Government’s proposal to sell crude oil to domestic refineries at dollar-denominated rates, describing the arrangement as distasteful for an oil-producing country. FG Targets ₦1,350 Petrol Cost Ceiling The criticism followed the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day discount on petrol sold by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), with priority given to public transport operators nationwide. Announcing the initiative on Thursday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the arrangement was not a fuel subsidy but an effort to sell petrol at cost. “We are offering a discount on petrol dispensed by NNPC Limited for the next 30 days in the first instance with priority for public transporters nationwide. So, it’s not a subsidy, government is just saying we sell to you at cost,” Oyedele said. The minister also disclosed that the government was negotiating a ₦1,350-per-litre ceiling on the ex-gantry or landing cost of petrol to help stabilise pump prices. He clarified that the proposal did not mean petrol would be sold at a fixed pump price of ₦1,350 per litre. Instead, it was designed to limit the immediate impact of fluctuations in global crude oil prices and exchange rates on domestic fuel costs. According to Oyedele, refiners and importers would initially absorb costs exceeding the proposed ceiling and recover the shortfall later when market conditions improved. He said the arrangement was neither a subsidy nor price control, but a mechanism to reduce sudden changes in petrol prices. Makinde Camp Calls for Greater Relief Despite the government’s proposed measures, the Makinde campaign maintained that Nigerians deserved a more substantial and lasting reduction in petrol prices rather than what it described as a temporary intervention ahead of the 2027 general elections. The organisation reaffirmed its support for Makinde as the APM presidential candidate, describing him as capable of providing honest and responsive leadership. The development adds to growing political criticism of the Federal Government’s approach to petrol pricing, with opposition figures questioning whether the 30-day discount will deliver meaningful relief to Nigerians.

Petrol pump at a filling station illustrating the Federal Government's 30-day discount on NNPC petrol and proposed ₦1,350 per litre cost ceiling.

FG offers 30-day NNPC petrol discount to ease fuel costs

The Federal Government has announced a 30-day discount on petrol sold by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as part of measures to ease the impact of rising fuel prices on Nigerians. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced the initiative on Thursday during a press briefing on fuel prices and subsidy-related issues in Abuja. Oyedele said the discount would initially run for 30 days, with priority given to public transport operators nationwide. According to him, the arrangement is not a return to fuel subsidy but a move by the government to sell petrol at cost. “We are offering a discount on petrol dispensed by NNPC Limited for the next 30 days in the first instance with priority for public transporters nationwide. So, it’s not a subsidy, government is just saying we sell to you at cost,” the minister said. FG Targets ₦1,350 Per Litre Petrol Cost Ceiling Oyedele also disclosed that the government was negotiating a ceiling of ₦1,350 per litre on the ex-gantry or landing cost of petrol to help stabilise pump prices. He explained that the proposed ceiling was designed to shield consumers from sudden increases triggered by fluctuations in global crude oil prices and foreign exchange rates. However, the ₦1,350 ceiling does not mean petrol will sell at that price at filling stations. Instead, it is intended to moderate changes in the underlying cost of the commodity and reduce the immediate impact of market volatility on consumers. Under the proposed price modulation mechanism, the ceiling would be reviewed monthly. Oyedele said refiners and importers would initially bear any shortfall when costs rise above the agreed ceiling, with the possibility of recovering the difference when market conditions improve. Government Rules Out Return to Fuel Subsidy The minister maintained that the proposed mechanism was neither a fuel subsidy nor price control, describing it as an approach to smoothing price changes over time. He argued that more predictable fuel prices would help households and businesses plan their expenses, particularly following increases in transportation and operating costs. According to Oyedele, limiting sudden price changes could reduce uncertainty, noting that sharp increases in petrol prices are not always followed by equally rapid reductions. He added that the government would publish the ceiling figures to promote transparency, with monthly reviews reflecting changing market conditions. The announcement comes amid continued concerns over the cost of petrol and its impact on transport fares, household spending and business operations. The 30-day discount is expected to provide temporary relief, particularly for public transport operators, although the government has not specified the exact discount per litre in the announcement.

NAF helicopter makes precautionary landing on farmland in Benue after military operation.

NAF helicopter lands on Benue farmland after anti-kidnap mission

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that one of its helicopters made a precautionary landing in Benue State after providing close air support to ground troops during an operation against suspected kidnappers. The helicopter landed on farmland in the Utur Tse-Igboji community of Makurdi, according to eyewitnesses. NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation targeted suspected kidnappers in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area, near the Enugu-Benue boundary. According to Ejodame, the operation disrupted the activities of the criminal elements and supported the advance of ground troops. He said the pilot later exercised his professional discretion to make a precautionary landing about 10 nautical miles from the airfield while returning to base. “This is in accordance with established operational and safety procedures following combat missions,” Ejodame said. The NAF said the helicopter has since returned to base. The incident comes two days after a NAF aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. The ATR-42 aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members when it plunged into a swamp opposite a naval base in the early hours of Monday. The NAF said no survivors had been found following the crash, which prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare three days of national mourning for the personnel who died.

Daniel Bwala speaking about Tinubu’s economic reforms and poverty in Nigeria

Bwala admits Tinubu’s reforms increased poverty in Nigeria

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has acknowledged that the administration’s economic reforms pushed more Nigerians into poverty, while insisting that the country has recorded significant progress since the reforms began. Bwala made the remarks on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, as reported by TheCable. He said the increase in poverty was partly a consequence of the economic adjustments introduced by the Tinubu administration, arguing that major reforms typically come with short-term hardship. “Please let it be clear even to the opposition, the reason why you have this number of poor people and some of these doomsday analytics that people are giving is because we undertook a reform,” Bwala said. “There is no part of the world where you start a reform like that there will not be discomfort.” Bwala acknowledged that more Nigerians had fallen into poverty since the reforms began but maintained that the situation had improved over time. “More people went down to poverty, acknowledged, but since when the reform started to today, we have made marked progress which is what we have spent the last three years talking to Nigerians about,” he said. He added that while a significant number of Nigerians remain poor, the government’s progress should not be overlooked. “So, you cannot discount that even though there are quite a number of our population that are poor which we admit, but we have made progress so far.” 2027 presidential election Speaking on the 2027 presidential election, Bwala predicted that Tinubu would perform better than he did in the 2023 election. Tinubu defeated the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by 1.81 million votes in 2023 and won by a margin of 2.69 million votes over Labour Party candidate Peter Obi. Bwala claimed that Tinubu’s expected victory in 2027 would be significantly wider. He said, “the margin of gap that President Bola Tinubu will give each and everyone of these candidates will be so much that you won’t believe it.” The comments come amid continued debate over the impact of the Federal Government’s economic reforms, particularly their effect on household incomes and living costs.