Motorists paying directly at the pump are excluded from the offer, with petrol selling at ₦1,405 per litre compared with ₦1,339 for app users.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has restricted its ₦66-per-litre petrol discount to customers who download its mobile application and make payments through the platform, leaving motorists paying directly at filling station pumps unable to access the price reduction. 
Checks by Saturday PUNCH at NNPCL retail outlets in Abuja on Friday showed that petrol sold for ₦1,405 per litre to customers paying at the pump, while motorists using the company’s mobile application paid ₦1,339 per litre.
The arrangement has raised concerns about accessibility, particularly for commercial transport operators and motorists who may be unfamiliar with the digital payment platform.
At the NNPCL mega station along Obasanjo Way, a fuel attendant confirmed that customers must download the application and complete their transactions through it to qualify for the discount.
“You can only qualify for the ₦66 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 ₦1,405, but in the app it is ₦1,339,” the attendant said.
Saturday PUNCH observed similar pricing arrangements at other NNPCL retail outlets across the Federal Capital Territory.
The discount was introduced on October 1 as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary. It was initially intended as a promotional offer to encourage customers to adopt the company’s digital payment platform.
However, following an announcement by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, on Thursday, the company extended the promotion until October 31.
The initiative comes amid rising petrol prices linked to higher international crude oil prices and tensions in the Middle East.
NNPCL’s Potential ₦4.62bn Revenue Sacrifice
Under the discount arrangement, NNPCL could forgo an estimated ₦4.62bn in gross sales revenue if its reported average monthly petrol sales of 70 million litres were all sold at the reduced price.
Oyedele disclosed the monthly sales volume during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, explaining that NNPCL Retail supplies approximately 70 million litres of petrol monthly.
At the prevailing pump price of ₦1,405 per litre, sales of 70 million litres would generate approximately ₦98.35bn in gross revenue.
At the discounted rate of ₦1,339 per litre, the same volume would generate about ₦93.73bn, representing a difference of ₦4.62bn.
However, the calculation is an estimate based on the assumption that all 70 million litres qualify for the discount. The actual reduction in gross revenue would depend on the volume sold through the application and the number of transactions completed during the promotional period.
The difference also does not necessarily represent a loss of profit, as NNPCL says the discount is being funded from its retail profit margin.
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, Oyedele said the company initially introduced the offer to encourage customers to use its mobile application.
“On 1st of October, they said Nigeria is turning 66. They did an app. They wanted people to adopt it. Promo. They said, if you come and buy fuel and you download our app, you get ₦66 less,” the minister said.
He disclosed that he contacted NNPCL to establish whether the discount would negatively affect its financial position.
According to him, he advised the company to calculate its profit margin and ensure that the reduction did not exceed the amount it could reasonably absorb without undermining its operations.
Oyedele argued that the company’s relatively small share of the petrol market made the initiative manageable while offering an opportunity to att
