30 days fuel discount: Thumb-up for the listening President, by Kola Amzat  

Across the globe, the essence of governance is efficient service delivery in all facets. More importantly, government authority is continually compelled to hearken to the yearnings of the governed for the purpose of addressing challenges militating against their well-being and general welfare.

The 30 days fuel discount initiative recently announced by the federal government is one laudable decision that could easily be situated within the above context.  

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy unequivocally declared that the fuel discount on petrol to be dispensed at NNPC Retail stations across the country is purely a commercial decision by the Retailers and does not in any way amount to restoration of fuel subsidy.

According to the Minister, the discount was being funded by NNPC retail outlets through a reduction in its retail profit margin, rather than the Federal Government’s Budget or the Federation Account and that the strategic initiative was aimed at providing relief to motorists without the removal of petrol subsidy in whatever form.

In all these, where is the confusion?

The misinformation being bandied around concerning the genuine intention of the government by the opposition camps, with specific reference to the camp of Atiku Abubakar is a clear indication of their lack of understanding of the concept of fuel subsidy itself, and how it had wreaked havoc on the nation economy over years.

However, if Turaki Adamawa and his goons claimed to be in tune with the workability of fuel subsidy, then they’ve been simply mischievous and disingenuous with their submission concerning the 30 days fuel discount.

It also suggests that the group are in desperation to do and say ANYTHING in their inordinate quest to occupy the Aso Villa.

There is no doubt that for about four decades, petroleum products have become the livewire of the entire economy. It’s an understatement to submit that over the same long period of time, the challenge in the sector has always paralyzed the entire economy-real sector, banking, telecoms, medium and small scale businesses, households and even, government itself.

Generally in the previous past, the challenges become more profound during the Ember months.

So, if the present government have been magnanimous and have therefore resolved, amongst other diverse initiatives already taken to better the lots of Nigerians, to implement 30 days fuel discount even against all odds, the appreciative nation should arise in unison to applaud the good intention and this writer is convinced that generality of Nigerians have embraced this largesse, and perhaps, waiting for more to come.

It’s only in the opposition camp that there are discordant tunes. It’s Turaki Adamawa and his group that have refused to appreciate the efforts of the government to make life more abundantly meaningful to the citizenry.

Characteristic of Turaki Adamawa, he orchestrated propaganda and fabricated falsehoods that the 30 days fuel discount initiative was packaged to influence the decision of Nigerians ahead of the forthcoming polls.

In his height of desperation, he’s blinded to the fact that the discount initiative is only for 30 days, technically terminating early November. Meanwhile, the general elections come in January and February 2026.

How do the two connect?

He also failed to reckon with the fact that it’s Nigerians’ electorates’ prerogative to decide who they desire to give the mandate of leading the country.

Nigerians vividly recollect that the same ex-vice president had earlier gullibly declared that President Bola Tinubu is adopting his proposal for a targeted subsidy on locally refined petrol despite earlier rejection of the president, as if he has EXCLUSIVE RIGHT to proffer solutions to challenges in governance.

The pertinent question remains: how on earth would Atiku Abubakar compare a 30 days fuel discount to the complete restoration of fuel subsidy that he proposed if elected?

These are two different concepts and in any form not related!

While 30 days fuel discount was aimed at provide relief for the motorists, with the initiative being funded by NNPC through a reduction in its retail profit margins, restoration of fuel subsidy as proposed by him would only create a new set oil Billionaires, engaging in absolutely nothing other than to wait on monthly basis for national bonanza from the Federation Account with resultant monumental damaging effects on the followings: increasing borrowing costs, continually subjecting foreign reserves account to tremendous pressure, significantly weaken government revenue thereby negatively impacting developments in all facets at sub-national governments, as well as comprehensively downgrade Nigeria Credit Rating by the international community and foreign financial institutions.

In recent times, so much confusion, falsehood, propaganda and misinformation are coming from the camp of Turaki Adamawa’s camp and with reckless abandon.

In saner climes, credible opposition groups continually come out with constructive criticisms of government programs, policies and agenda for the purpose of constantly putting the government on track. Not so in Nigeria!

This is in contrast to the methodology of opposition in Nigeria where they continually adopt guerilla warfare approaches and perpetually see themselves as enemies of the nation, with their devilish agenda of always attempting to bring the roof down, except things go in their ways.

This is why Nigerian people would never give them a mandate to lead the country.                                              

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB, FCTI, MBA, Bsc),

Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,

09077509348.