The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has extended its ₦66-per-litre petrol discount until 31 October 2026, but motorists may need to use the company’s mobile application to benefit from the reduction.
The extension, announced on Friday, 9 October, comes as rising fuel prices continue to affect transport costs, household spending and business operations across Nigeria.
Although the discount is available through NNPC Retail stations nationwide, checks conducted at some filling stations in Abuja indicate that customers paying directly at the pumps are not automatically receiving the lower price.
Instead, motorists using the NNPC Fuel App and completing their payments digitally have been able to purchase petrol at a reduced rate.
The development raises an important question for Nigerians hoping to save money at filling stations: how can they access the discount before it expires?
How to get the ₦66 NNPC petrol discount
According to a report published by Saturday PUNCH on 10 October, motorists seeking the discount were required to download the NNPC Fuel App and make their payments through the digital platform.
Checks at NNPC stations in Abuja on Friday showed that petrol was selling for ₦1,405 per litre to customers paying directly at the pumps.
However, customers using the application paid ₦1,339 per litre, representing a saving of ₦66.
This means that a customer buying 50 litres of petrol at the reported Abuja price could save ₦3,300 by using the discount.
For motorists purchasing 30 litres, the saving would amount to ₦1,980.
A commercial driver purchasing 100 litres over several refuelling transactions could save ₦6,600, provided the transactions qualify for the offer.
These figures are calculations based on the advertised discount rather than guaranteed savings for every customer.
Petrol prices differ across locations, and motorists should confirm the applicable price, payment requirements and availability of the promotion before refuelling.
Why NNPC extended the discount
The national oil company initially introduced the ₦66 discount on 1 October to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The company subsequently extended the promotion until the end of October following renewed government efforts to address the effects of rising global energy prices.
In a statement issued by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, NNPC said the initiative was intended to provide temporary relief to motorists, families and businesses facing higher fuel costs.
The announcement followed remarks made on Thursday, 8 October, by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele.
The minister said NNPC would offer discounted petrol as part of a government response to rising prices, with public transport operators identified as a priority group.
Higher petrol prices have increased operating costs for commercial transport businesses and households that depend on petrol-powered generators.
For many Nigerians, the price of petrol affects more than the cost of driving.
Traders transporting goods to markets, businesses generating their own electricity and workers commuting over long distances also face increased expenses when fuel becomes more expensive.
The temporary discount could reduce some of these costs for eligible customers, although the amount saved will depend on their petrol consumption.
Does the discount mean fuel subsidy has returned?
NNPC has rejected suggestions that extending the discount represents the return of Nigeria’s petrol subsidy.
In its official statement dated 9 October, the company said the measure was a temporary customer-relief initiative and did not change the country’s existing market-based petrol pricing system.
The distinction is important because the Federal Government removed the petrol subsidy in May 2023 following President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration.
Under the previous subsidy arrangement, government intervention helped keep petrol prices below what consumers would otherwise have paid under market conditions.
The current discount, according to NNPC, is limited to its retail business and does not establish a fixed nationwide pump price.
The company also said the measure would not alter the wider pricing framework for petroleum products.
This means petrol prices at privately operated filling stations may remain different from those charged by NNPC Retail.
What motorists should know before October 31
The latest findings suggest that motorists should not assume the advertised discount will automatically be deducted when they purchase petrol.
Customers planning to use the offer should check the NNPC Fuel App, confirm that their selected station is participating and establish the payment method required.
The reduced price may also differ between states because the company’s announcement does not create a single nationwide petrol price.
The offer is scheduled to expire on 31 October 2026 unless NNPC announces another extension.
For Nigerians dealing with high transport and energy costs, the discount offers a limited opportunity to reduce petrol expenses during October.
However, its practical value will depend on how easily customers can access the digital payment system and whether the participating stations consistently honour the advertised reduction.
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