Presidency defends fuel import duty amid criticism, highlights benefits for local industry

By Kunle Sanni –

The Presidency has justified the recently approved 15 per cent import duty on refined petroleum products, describing it as a strategic step toward transforming Nigeria’s energy sector.

Presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare, in a statement on Friday, said President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the new import levy was “a bold and visionary decision aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape.”

“It’s no longer news that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel — a bold and strategic move aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape,” Mr Dare said.

However, the decision has drawn reactions from different quarters. On Thursday, speaking on Channels TV, former Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo described the policy as “anti-people.” Mr Adebayo accused the Tinubu administration of imposing “endless taxes” on Nigerians amid worsening economic hardship.

In response, Mr Dare argued that the measure was designed “to reverse that trend by encouraging local refining, boosting domestic capacity, and ensuring that Nigeria’s oil wealth translates directly into national prosperity.”

According to the Presidency, Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported fuel, despite being a major crude oil producer, has drained foreign exchange and deprived the country of job opportunities.

“The policy represents a bridge from dependence to independence, from vulnerability to strength,” Mr Dare stated, adding that it would drive employment, investment, and industrial growth.

He further explained that by making imported fuel less competitive, the government was “tilting the market in favour of local refineries such as Dangote and other modular plants,” thereby laying the foundation for a self-sustaining energy sector.