Fuel discount not for votes, we are not that dumb – FG

The Federal Government has dismissed allegations that its proposed fuel discount is part of a strategy to secure votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, addressed this claim during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. Oyedele stated that the government is not foolish enough to believe such a tactic would work, emphasizing that the discount is meant to assist the Nigerian people.

Earlier this week, the Federal Government announced a temporary discount on petrol dispensed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for the next 30 days. Some opposition politicians had speculated that the move was a ploy to influence voters ahead of the 2027 elections. In response, Oyedele questioned the notion that Nigerians are too unintelligent to discern such motivations. He pointed out that the 30-day discount is insufficient time to impact election outcomes.

Oyedele urged the media and the public to respect the intelligence of the average Nigerian and to process information critically. He argued that the Federal Government owns the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), so offering a discount is a logical measure to alleviate the burden on consumers. Oyedele stressed that the government is taking multiple measures to support the populace, and the timing of this particular discount should not be a cause for concern.