Spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, has said the President’s approval of a 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel should be seen as a bridge to economic stability rather than a burden on Nigerians.
Dare made this known in a statement posted on his X handle yesterday, while reacting to public concerns over the new import duty approved by the Federal Government.
He explained that the policy was a strategic step aimed at reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel, promoting local refining, and ensuring that the country’s oil wealth benefits its citizens.
According to him, the move would make imported fuel less competitive and encourage the operation of local refineries such as the Dangote Refinery and modular plants across the country.
“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,” Dare wrote.
“For years, the nation has depended heavily on imported fuel despite being a leading crude oil producer, draining foreign exchange and exporting jobs that should have been created at home.
“This new policy is designed to reverse that trend by encouraging local refining, boosting domestic capacity, and ensuring that Nigeria’s oil wealth translates directly into national prosperity.”
He noted that as local refining capacity increases and supply stabilises, fuel prices will eventually moderate, while job creation, industrial growth, and investment in the energy sector expand.
“This policy is therefore not a burden, but a bridge — from dependence to independence, from vulnerability to strength,” Dare added.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami, faulted the new tariff, warning that it could further worsen the cost of living for ordinary Nigerians.
As of Friday morning, petrol prices hovered between ₦950 and ₦960 per litre in Abuja and neighbouring states.