The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has asked the Federal Government to allocate 30% of petrol covered by its discount initiative to independent marketers, warning that limiting distribution to Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) retail stations could leave many Nigerians without access to the relief.
PETROAN said its members’ outlets could help extend the benefit to rural communities, smaller towns and areas without nearby NNPC stations.
The request followed the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day petrol relief initiative on October 8, 2026, under which NNPC Retail would forgo its retail profit margin to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on households and businesses.
According to a report published by TheCable on October 9, PETROAN’s National Public Relations Officer, Joseph Obele, said the association wanted 30% of the discounted petrol volume distributed through its retail network to improve nationwide coverage.
The association said wider distribution could help reduce transportation costs and ease pressure on the prices of food, agricultural produce, manufactured goods and other essential commodities.
PETROAN President Billy Gillis-Harry also raised concerns about the limited number of NNPC retail outlets relative to the country’s population and wider network of filling stations.
The association believes that involving independent marketers would give more motorists an opportunity to benefit from the intervention, particularly in communities where NNPC stations are unavailable.
However, the extent of the relief would depend on how the government structures the allocation and whether participating marketers can pass the savings on to consumers.
PETROAN has also highlighted the financial pressures facing fuel retailers, including the cost of existing stock and expensive borrowing.
Marketers who purchased petrol at higher prices may struggle to reduce pump prices immediately without incurring losses. Selling below their acquisition costs could also leave them without enough funds to replenish their stocks.
High financing costs add to the challenge, as some retailers rely on loans to purchase fuel and meet operating expenses.
Meanwhile, NNPC Limited confirmed on October 9 that its ₦66-per-litre retail discount, initially introduced to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, would continue until October 31, 2026.
The company said the offer was a temporary customer relief measure and did not represent a return to the petrol subsidy regime abolished in May 2023.
PETROAN’s proposal would extend the distribution of discounted fuel beyond NNPC’s own retail network, but the government has yet to confirm an allocation of 30% to the association in the reports cited.
