The Federal Government’s ₦66-per-litre petrol discount, administered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), has drawn criticism from motorists who say the requirement to download the NNPC Fuel App and pay digitally makes the relief difficult to access. The discount, announced as part of efforts to ease the burden of rising petrol prices, is available only at NNPC retail stations and runs until October 31, 2026.
App-only requirement sparks backlash
Motorists in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun and other locations have questioned why they must use a smartphone application to benefit from the price reduction. According to a report by Leadership, some drivers welcomed the discount but argued that requiring a smartphone, internet data, registration and digital payment could exclude commercial drivers, tricycle operators and other customers who rely on cash transactions.
At an NNPC mega station along Obasanjo Way in Abuja, motorists paying directly at the pump were charged ₦1,405 per litre, while customers using the app paid ₦1,339 per litre, the newspaper reported. The difference amounts to ₦66 per litre, but drivers said the requirement could prevent some of the people most affected by high fuel costs from benefiting.
Gbenga Onikoyi, a commercial driver in Ogun State, said motorists were yet to enjoy the full benefits of the initiative. Another driver, Musa Ibrahim, who operates along the Abuja–Keffi route, said the app requirement was a problem for people who did not always have internet data or were unfamiliar with digital payments. Other motorists called for the discount to be applied directly at filling-station pumps rather than making customers complete additional steps before receiving it.
NNPC defends app-based promotion
In response to the criticism, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, told Leadership that the app-based discount was the same promotion announced as part of the government’s 30-day petrol relief initiative. Odeh said restricting access to the NNPC Fuel App was intended to ensure effective control, prevent abuse and ensure the benefit reached its intended customers. He also said the promotion was designed to encourage wider adoption of the application.
The discount was initially introduced on October 1 to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary. NNPC later extended it until October 31, 2026, across its retail stations nationwide. In a statement issued on October 9, the company said the promotion was intended to provide relief to customers amid elevated global crude oil prices and the resulting impact on domestic petrol prices.
No return to subsidy, says Finance Minister
The Federal Government has maintained that the arrangement is not a return to the petrol subsidy regime abolished in 2023. Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele said NNPC Retail would temporarily forgo its retail profit margin to offer the reduction. Oyedele said the discount was not being funded from the Federation Account. Under the arrangement, NNPC Retail would reduce its margin and pass the savings to customers during the promotional period.
However, the app requirement and the limited reach of NNPC’s retail network have raised questions about how accessible the relief is to motorists across the country. Customers who live far from NNPC stations or lack reliable internet access may find it more difficult to benefit. The discount also does not establish a uniform petrol price nationwide; NNPC says it applies only at its retail outlets, while prices at other stations continue to reflect their own market conditions.
For motorists, the central question remains whether a temporary ₦66 reduction, accessible only through a mobile application, will provide meaningful relief from high fuel and transport costs.
