The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has commended the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount scheme and requested 30 percent of the discounted volume for distribution through its retail network.
In a statement on Friday in Abuja jointly signed by its Special Adviser Media, Chris Odia, and National PRO, Joseph Obele, PETROAN said the initiative covering petrol supplied by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) will help cut transport costs and ease cost of living pressures.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, had announced the scheme at a press briefing in Abuja, identifying public transport operators as priority beneficiaries.
PETROAN said transport costs directly affect prices of food, agricultural produce, manufactured goods and other essentials, and that the intervention is timely.
The association said its retail outlets are spread across virtually all local government areas, including remote and underserved communities where NNPC retail outlets are not present, giving it capacity to take the intervention beyond major cities to rural areas.
It therefore appealed for 30 percent allocation of discounted petrol through PETROAN outlets to ensure wider national distribution and ensure benefits reach urban and rural Nigerians.
PETROAN also said its grassroots network positions it to champion and pilot the Federal Government’s CNG initiative, noting that leveraging existing outlets would accelerate accessibility and adoption of cleaner and more affordable fuel.
On economic benefits, PETROAN said lower petrol costs for transport operators could translate to lower fares, more disposable income for households, reduced cost of moving farm produce to urban markets and moderated food prices.
It added that reduced logistics expenses could support small businesses, traders, farmers and manufacturers, protect jobs, improve productivity and help ease inflationary pressures if savings are transmitted across the supply chain.
National President of PETROAN, Dr Billy Gillis Harry, commended the Federal Government for recognising transport’s strategic role, noting that commuters, traders, farmers and businesses could benefit.
He urged transparent and efficient implementation with clear guidelines on discount per litre, eligible beneficiaries, monitoring mechanisms and distribution channels.
Gillis Harry said success should be measured not only by volume sold at discount but by impact on fares, food prices, operating costs and household purchasing power.
PETROAN called on NNPC, transport operators, marketers and relevant agencies to cooperate to achieve the objectives and urged government to assess the 30-day programme for possible extension if it delivers measurable reductions in transport costs and inflation.
The association reaffirmed commitment to supporting policies that promote affordable petroleum products, lower logistics costs and improved living standards.
