Fuel Discount App Policy Sparks Concerns in Nigerian States

Kingsley Ike Motorists in Abuja, Lagos, and Ogun states have raised concerns about the federal government's mandate for using a mobile application to access the N66-per-litre petrol discount at NNPC retail stations.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced a 30-day petrol discount to address rising fuel costs, emphasizing it is not a return to the fuel subsidy regime abolished in May 2023. Instead, NNPC Retail will sell fuel at direct cost without standard profit margins.

At NNPC retail outlets in Abuja, the policy's practical impact is evident, with drivers facing challenges due to the requirement for smartphone, internet data, app registration, and digital payments. This approach threatens to exclude the transport sector from the discount.