₦airaland Forum

Arise Television anchor, Rufai Oseni has accused the Federal Government of hypocrisy over its decision to introduce a 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, filling stations.

Oseni argued that the discount amounted to a return of fuel subsidy despite the position of the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, that the measure was not a subsidy.

The broadcaster made the remarks on Friday during The Morning Show, an Arise Television programme.

He questioned why the government, which had consistently opposed the return of fuel subsidy, introduced the petrol discount for only 30 days, particularly as preparations for the 2027 general election gathered momentum.

Oseni also commended former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for bringing the need to cushion the effects of rising petrol prices to the forefront of public debate.

He recalled that Atiku, in a speech delivered on September 18, argued that President Bola Tinubu could rename the intervention and take credit for it, provided it reduced the burden on Nigerians.

According to Oseni, the government had failed to introduce sufficient relief measures for Nigerians despite the rise in global crude oil prices since March 8.

He said the decision to offer a petrol discount demonstrated that the government could intervene to ease the burden on citizens, contrary to its earlier position that fuel subsidy should not return.

Oseni said: “Subsidy is back. Welcome back, subsidy. The fact that the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, says it’s not a subsidy does not mean it’s not a subsidy.

“Read my lips. It is a subsidy, and it is back. Who do we have to thank? Atiku Abubakar. I never knew there would be a day I would thank you, Atiku Abubakar.

“If not for you, this government wouldn’t have thought of any reprieve for anybody. If not for you, who brought the subsidy issue to the front burner, the government wouldn’t have thought of anything to cushion the effects of rising petrol prices, which have exceeded $100 per barrel since March 8.

“But today, Atiku Abubakar, take your flowers. On September 18, Atiku gave a speech, and I will quote that speech. He said, ‘President Bola Tinubu can even rename it and take the glory, as long as the pain is less on the people.’

“So, it is possible. You see, hypocrisy is so much in this country. Government officials spent all these months defending their position and saying, ‘No, subsidy should not come back. It is an aberration.

“​If we do this, if we do that, it’s an aberration.’ But when it’s one month to the election, they quickly bring it back for 30 days.

“But, as people have asked, after 30 days, when they have switched people off and held the election, will we see the outcome and then they will take it back?

“This is because a government that didn’t care for you since March 8, when petrol prices reached $100 per barrel, has now introduced a discount in the middle of October for just one month.

“So, we have seen that it was possible. This was the same President Tinubu who told us, ‘Hypocrisy is so much in this country.’ He said the state governors should use CNG to reduce transportation costs. That’s why they were pushing CNG. So, now you’ve gone back and given people a discount.

“For those who are saying it’s a discount, not a subsidy, okay, who will bear the cost of the lost profit? You people fail to understand, in basic economics, that your profit is also used to invest in a business. So, when you make the argument that it’s a discount, not a subsidy…”

Subsidy is back, according to Rufai Useni on Arise this morning. He also praised Atiku for pressing the Tinubu government to cut fuel prices and change the entire campaign to an issue-based one. pic.twitter.com/QVFjgAvCIV

— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) October 9, 2026

Racoon:
Tinubu and his useless, senseless, rudderless, impact less and directionless govt of trial and error have committed a grave political suicide. Guess his zombies hailed this irresponsible action back then as political sagacity? Reality is clearer now right?

rossipki:
What's wrong with introducing a one-month discount?

How is it "irresponsible" to ease the burden on the masses?

The fuel subsidy is still in place and is going nowhere.

You and Rufail should go and get a real job like real men, and stop disturbing people.

SixSeven:
Is subsidy back?

A subsidy is a financial grant, payment, or tax benefit given usually by a government to an individual, business, or organization to lower the cost of a product or service, support an industry, or encourage specific social and economic activities.

If you cannot find the answer in all these things I have given you, I am not responsible for your understanding.

rossipki:
What's wrong with introducing a one-month discount?

How is it "irresponsible" to ease the burden on the masses?

The fuel subsidy is still in place and is going nowhere.

You and Rufail should go and get a real job like real men, and stop disturbing people.

Lifediary:
Someone up there just gave us the exact definitions of subsidy.

So the big question now is: How is this discount by the FG different from subsidy?

Please, if you are still confused, the definitions of subsidy are up there.

Subsidy is a broader term. The only thing is that APC governments are always clever by half... Whether Buhari's or Tinubu's governments. They will coin words and narrow the meaning to soothe their own selfish narratives.

In the real economic sense, if a mechanism keeps PMS prices below the true market cost and someone absorbs the difference, then it can be described as a form of subsidy called Implicit Subsidy.

Mind you, there is also [b]Explicit Dubsidy. [/b]That was what President Tinubu removed on his day of inauguration when he braggadociosly said "subsidy is gone"!

So sane people, don't let anyone use any form of grammar to do abracadabra for you.

All na SUBSIDY!

Image123:
So how much are you buying fuel now since you claim subsidy is back?

Lovit:
I don't get it yet

Please somebody tell me, how much is NNPC filling stations selling fuel now?

How much?

before I comment

SixSeven:
Is subsidy back?

A subsidy is a financial grant, payment, or tax benefit given usually by a government to an individual, business, or organization to lower the cost of a product or service, support an industry, or encourage specific social and economic activities.

If you cannot find the answer in all these things I have given you, I am not responsible for your understanding.

rossipki:
What's wrong with introducing a one-month discount?
How is it "irresponsible" to ease the burden on the masses?
The fuel subsidy is still in place and is going nowhere.
You and Rufail should go and get a real job like real men, and stop disturbing people.

Image123:
So how much are you buying fuel now since you claim subsidy is back?

Deltafirstson:
Although the pump price of fuel was N197 when President Bola Tinubu took over on May 29, 2023, the product now sells for N617 per litre – less than two months after.

In his inaugural address, Tinubu announced that subsidy was gone, fulfilling a promise that all leading presidential candidates made during the campaign.

Nigerians have been lamenting the hardship occasioned by fuel price hike. Amid the lamentation, a video where Tinubu campaigned to slash the price of fuel went into circulation.

Checks by Daily Trust affirmed the authenticity of the video uploaded on the YouTube page of Channels Television.

At his campaign rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on January 25, 2023, Tinubu spoke on a number of issues, but those of fuel scarcity and naira redesign made the headlines.

However, Tinubu who spoke in Yoruba language, also assured the crowd that though people were saying petrol price would hit N200, it would be reviewed downward under him.

“The great Nigerian youths, the great Nigerian students, the confident Nigerian youths. This is a revolution. This election is a revolution. They are plotting, but they will fail. They said fuel price will increase and reach N200 per litre. Go and relax, we will bring it down,” he had said in the 7th minute of the video.


https://dailytrust.com/breaking-video-of-tinubu-campaigning-to-crash-fuel-price-goes-viral-amid-hike/



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JH8CC_JdUA

9jatriot:
I have a feeling that this subsidy plan that Atiku has been parading around for sometime now must have been because Atiku got wind of this plan. If anyone recalls, Atiku came out of the blue to suddenly start saying he will bring back the subsidy. Even after he did that, Amaechi, who had not yet been briefed, said something different; an ADC spokesperson also said something contrary to his statement. Amaechi has since been doubling down on it.
What I think must have happened Atiku first heard about it, then later told Amaechi and co, then Kwankwaso and Obi heard about it, which is why they are all now singing subsidy,

Biodun556:
Government made surplus from fuel price increase as a result of US Iran and then decides to give one month relief , you called that subsidy?

rossipki:
What's wrong with introducing a one-month discount?

How is it "irresponsible" to ease the burden on the masses?

The fuel subsidy is still in place and is going nowhere.

You and Rufail should go and get a real job like real men, and stop disturbing people.