Nigeria extends NNPC petrol discount as government pursues supply-cost measures

Nigeria’s government has announced measures to ease the effect of rising petrol prices on households and businesses.

NNPC Retail is continuing a ₦66-per-litre discount at its stations until 31 October, and the company says the reduction comes from giving up some of its profit margin.

In Abuja outlets visited by a newspaper, customers had to use the NNPC Fuel App and pay digitally to receive the discount; the observations do not establish arrangements nationwide.

The government is also negotiating a ceiling of ₦1,350 per litre on petrol’s cost before distribution and retail charges, and has proposed forward crude sales to domestic refineries.

These measures are different from direct payments from the federal budget, which the finance minister said are not funding the NNPC discount.

African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar instead proposes production support for qualifying locally refined fuel, potentially using crude sold below market prices.

The government says its measures do not restore the old petrol subsidy, while Atiku says they conflict with the government’s objections to his proposal; the discount is scheduled to continue through 31 October, and negotiations are under way.