Motorists seeking to benefit from the Federal Government’s N66-per-liter petrol discount must download the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s mobile application and pay digitally, as the reduction is not automatically available to customers at filling stations, according to Saturday PUNCH, ABNTV reports.
Checks at NNPC retail outlets in Abuja on Friday revealed that petrol was still being sold at N1,405 per litre to customers paying directly at the pumps, while those using the company’s mobile application paid N1,339 per litre.
The findings indicate that the government’s petrol price relief initiative, intended to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs on Nigerians, particularly commercial transport operators, remains tied to a digital payment arrangement.
The development comes as NNPC extended its N66-per-litre discount until October 31, while the company could forgo an estimated N4.62bn in gross revenue if all its average monthly petrol sales qualify for the reduction.
At the NNPC mega station along Obasanjo Way, a fuel attendant confirmed that customers could only access the discount through the company’s application.
“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.
Our correspondent observed similar pricing arrangements at other NNPC retail stations across the Federal Capital Territory.
The arrangement means motorists who purchase petrol directly at the pumps without using the application do not automatically enjoy the discount.
It also raises questions about how easily commercial transport operators and other motorists unfamiliar with the digital platform can access the relief.
The discount was initially introduced on October 1 to commemorate 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.
The government said the initiative was intended to provide temporary relief amid rising international crude oil prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, NNPC could forgo an estimated N4.62bn in gross revenue under the discount arrangement, based on the company’s reported monthly petrol sales volume of 70 million litres.
Oyedele, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said NNPC Retail supplied about 70 million litres of petrol monthly.
Using the prevailing pump price of N1,405 per litre, the volume would generate approximately N98.35bn in gross sales revenue.
At the discounted price of N1,339 per litre, the same volume would generate N93.73bn, representing a difference of N4.62bn.
The estimate assumes that all 70 million litres qualify for the discount. The actual revenue reduction would depend on the volume purchased through the application and the company’s sales during the promotional period.
The figure does not necessarily represent a loss of profit, as NNPC maintains that the discount is being funded from its retail margin.
Oyedele explained that the initiative was originally conceived as a promotional offer to encourage customers to adopt the company’s digital platform.
