Motorists seeking to benefit from the Federal Government’s N66-per-litre petrol discount must download the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) mobile application and pay through the platform, as the reduction is not automatically available to customers buying fuel directly at filling stations.
Checks by Saturday PUNCH at NNPC retail outlets in Abuja on Friday showed that petrol was selling for N1,405 per litre at the pumps, while customers using the company’s mobile application paid N1,339 per litre.
The arrangement means motorists who do not use the digital platform continue to pay the regular pump price, despite the Federal Government’s announcement of a temporary petrol price relief initiative intended to ease the impact of rising fuel costs, particularly on public transport operators.
At the NNPC mega station along Obasanjo Way in Abuja, a fuel attendant confirmed that customers could access the discount only by downloading the application and completing their payments through it.
“You can only qualify for the N66 discount if you download the app. You would also make payment via the application. So, it is not yet directly when you come to our pump stations.
“You just download the app and follow the procedure. We are still selling at N1,405, but in the app it is N1,339,” the attendant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
Similar pricing arrangements were observed at other NNPC retail stations across the Federal Capital Territory.
The arrangement raises questions about accessibility, particularly for commercial transport operators and other motorists who may not be familiar with the application or prefer to pay directly at the pumps.
The discount was initially introduced on October 1 to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary. However, following an announcement by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, on Thursday, NNPC extended the promotion until October 31, 2026.
The government said the initiative was intended to provide temporary relief to Nigerians amid rising international crude oil prices associated with the conflict in the Middle East.
Despite the extension, the discount remains linked to the company’s digital payment platform, rather than being automatically applied to every purchase at NNPC filling stations.
NNPC could forgo an estimated N4.62 billion in gross sales revenue if its reported average monthly petrol sales volume of 70 million litres were all sold at the discounted rate.
Oyedele disclosed on Channels Television’s Politics Today that NNPC Retail supplied approximately 70 million litres of petrol monthly.
At the regular price of N1,405 per litre, that volume would generate about N98.35 billion in gross sales revenue. At the discounted price of N1,339 per litre, the same quantity would generate approximately N93.73 billion.
The difference amounts to N4.62 billion, assuming the entire 70 million litres qualify for the discount.
However, the calculation represents a potential reduction in gross sales revenue, not necessarily a loss of profit. The actual financial impact would depend on the quantity of petrol sold through the application during the promotional period and the company’s operating costs and margins.
Oyedele said the initiative was initially designed as a promotional offer to encourage customers to adopt NNPC’s digital platform.
“On 1st of October, they said Nigeria is turning 66. They did an app. They wanted people to adopt it. Promo. They said, if you come and buy fuel and you download our app, you get 66 Naira less,” the minister said.
He explained that he contacted NNPC to establish whether the discount would negatively affect the company’s financial position.
“So I called them and said, this is your 66 Naira. Are you sure it’s not over-recovering that you tell me that you’re taking money from a digital account? They said, no.
“I said, okay. Now, since we are doing this, why don’t you go and calculate how much is your profit? And limit that discount to your profit,” Oyedele said.
According to the minister, NNPC’s share of the petrol market made the initiative manageable, while the promotion could also help the company attract more customers to its retail outlets and digital platform.
He maintained that the discount was being funded from the company’s retail margin and did not constitute a return to the fuel subsidy regime.
“The point is that what NNPC is selling at after the discount is still market-reflective. Because they told me they are buying all of it from Dangote. Dangote is not giving a subsidy.
“So when they buy at N1,325 from Dangote, they add their own cost to it, their profit. And they sell. For this period, they are taking out only their own profit element. That’s why we call it margin discount. That’s number one point. It is not a subsidy,” he said.
Oyedele added that the government had encouraged NNPC to prioritise public transport operators and limit the initial intervention to 30 days, subject to a review of international oil prices.
The minister also ruled out a return to the previous petrol subsidy arrangement, warning that restoring broad-based price support would place a substantial burden on public finances.
He estimated that reversing the subsidy removal could cost the Federal Government approximately N20 trillion annually, while reducing petrol prices to N500 per litre could require about N16 trillion yearly.
“If you take the subsidy back to where it was before the reform, it will cost about N20tn a year. It doesn’t matter what you call it, whether it’s production or not,” he said.
Oyedele argued that such expenditure would compete with funding for salaries, pensions, education, healthcare and infrastructure.
He also explained that the government could not currently supply all the crude oil required by the Dangote refinery because Nigeria’s crude production is distributed among the government, joint-venture partners and other contractual interests.
The minister said the government’s priority was to maintain market-based pricing while improving domestic supply and reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.
In a statement issued on Friday, NNPC Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, confirmed that the N66-per-litre discount would continue until October 31 at the company’s retail outlets nationwide.
The company said the extension followed the Federal Government’s renewed efforts to reduce the impact of rising fuel prices on households, businesses and the wider economy.
“Following the statement by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, on 8 October 2026, NNPC Limited reiterates its commitment to working with the government and stakeholders to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on households, businesses and the wider economy.
“Before the announcement, NNPC Limited had introduced a N66 sales discount on 1 October 2026 to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary. This will now continue until 31 October 2026 across NNPC Retail stations nationwide,” the statement read.
NNPC described the initiative as a customer relief measure and maintained that it did not represent a reinstatement of petrol subsidy.
The company also clarified that the discount would not establish a uniform national pump price or change the market-based pricing framework governing petroleum products.
“We recognise that higher petrol prices affect everyday life, from the cost of commuting to the expenses of running a business.
“We understand the strain on families and livelihoods, and this discount is intended to provide direct relief to customers during this difficult period,” the company said.
NNPC added that it remained committed to maintaining reliable petroleum supplies while operating on a commercially responsible basis.
“Our priority is to provide practical support while maintaining commercially responsible operations. We will continue to explain the scope and duration of our customer initiatives clearly, so Nigerians can make informed purchasing decisions,” the statement added.
The company urged Nigerians not to interpret the discount as a return to the former subsidy regime and assured motorists that it would continue to maintain supplies and provide customer service at its retail outlets.
With the promotion now extended until October 31, motorists seeking the N66 reduction will need to use the NNPC mobile application and complete payment digitally, according to checks at the company’s Abuja stations. Customers paying directly at the pumps should not assume that the discount will automatically apply to their purchases.
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