Nigeria's government has introduced a temporary price reduction on gasoline for public transport operators, several months before the presidential election on January 16. The policy, announced by Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele, will last for 30 days and involves the national oil company NNPC Limited, which manages a wide network of gas stations across the country. The government clarified that this is not a return to the subsidies that were removed in 2023 by President Bola Tinubu. Instead, it states that gasoline will be sold "at cost price," though the exact amount of the reduction has not been specified. The current price of a liter of gasoline is approaching 1,400 nairas, a significant increase from about 830 nairas before a surge in prices linked to tensions in the Middle East. The removal of fuel subsidies, which many economists supported, has contributed to the rising cost of living in Africa's most populous country. The government argues that these reforms are necessary to maintain public finances and ensure economic stability. President Tinubu has stated that sustaining subsidies was no longer viable and that they posed a risk to Nigeria's economic health. The opposition has strongly criticized the government's move. The Nigerian Democratic Congress, which backs Peter Obi's presidential bid, claims the policy is an indirect reintroduction of subsidies as the election nears. Atiku Abubakar, another opposition figure, questions the long-term viability of the 30-day discount and calls for a more permanent, targeted subsidy system to keep pump prices lower. In addition to the temporary price cut, the government is working to create a pricing modulation mechanism to manage fuel price fluctuations. It is currently negotiating a ceiling of 1,350 nairas per liter, with a system that would allow refiners and importers to absorb price increases temporarily and recover their costs when market conditions improve. This initiative reflects the government's effort to balance ongoing economic reforms with the needs of a population struggling with high inflation, just weeks before a critical presidential election.