The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has clarified that motorists seeking to benefit from its ₦66-per-litre fuel discount must use the NNPC Fuel App to access the offer.
The clarification comes amid complaints from motorists who expected the reduction to be available automatically to customers purchasing petrol at NNPC retail stations nationwide.
At some NNPC outlets in Abuja, petrol was being sold for about ₦1,405 per litre to customers paying directly at the pump, while motorists who completed their transactions through the NNPC Fuel App were able to access the ₦66 reduction, bringing the effective price to ₦1,339 per litre.
How the ₦66 Discount Works
NNPC initially introduced the promotion on October 1 as part of activities marking Nigeria's 66th Independence Anniversary.
The original offer was scheduled to run until October 7, with customers required to download and use the NNPC Fuel App to qualify.
The company subsequently extended its customer relief initiative amid continued pressure from elevated petrol prices.
NNPC said the discount is intended to provide temporary relief to households, businesses and motorists affected by higher fuel costs resulting from elevated global crude oil prices.
The company has also stressed that the initiative does not represent a return to the petrol subsidy regime abolished in 2023.
Motorists Paying at Pump Do Not Automatically Get Discount
The app requirement means motorists who simply arrive at an NNPC station and pay directly at the pump may be charged the regular retail price rather than receiving the ₦66 reduction.
An attendant at an NNPC station in Abuja told Punch that customers had to download the application and make payment through it to qualify for the discount. Similar arrangements were reportedly observed at other NNPC stations in the Federal Capital Territory.
The arrangement has generated complaints from motorists who argue that a government-backed fuel relief measure should be easier to access, particularly for commercial drivers and customers who may have limited access to smartphones, mobile data or reliable internet connections.
NNPC Defends App-Based Approach
NNPC Retail Managing Director Huub Stokman said the promotion was also designed to reward the company's loyal customers.
According to Stokman, customers who register and are identified through the retail app can receive the ₦66-per-litre benefit.
He said the company wanted to combine the Independence anniversary celebration with a reward for customers who patronise NNPC Retail.
The company has therefore maintained that the app-based structure is part of the promotion's terms rather than an automatic reduction in the pump price for every customer.
Discount Does Not Set a National Petrol Price
NNPC has also clarified that its discount does not establish a uniform petrol price across Nigeria.
The company's October 9 statement said the initiative applies to NNPC Retail outlets and does not alter the market-based pricing framework for petroleum products.
This means prices can continue to vary between locations and between NNPC and other fuel marketers.
The Federal Government has described the intervention as a temporary measure intended to cushion consumers from the recent increase in petrol prices.
Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele has said the reduction is being achieved through NNPC Retail's margin rather than a return to the former subsidy arrangement.
Complaints Over Accessibility
The app-only requirement has become a major point of concern for motorists.
Critics argue that restricting the ₦66 saving to digital transactions could exclude people who do not use smartphones or who encounter network and data limitations.
The concern is particularly relevant for commercial transport operators, whose operating costs are directly affected by petrol prices.
For motorists able to use the application, however, the discount provides a significant reduction compared with the regular price charged at the same outlets.
The broader issue is whether the temporary relief can reach enough motorists to substantially reduce the pressure created by high fuel prices.
NNPC's promotion is currently scheduled to continue under its various terms and conditions, while the company maintains that it is a temporary customer-relief measure rather than a restoration of petrol subsidy.
