By Deborah Nnamdi
The Presidency has clarified that the recently approved 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel is a strategic move to make imported fuel less competitive and promote local refining.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 31, 2025, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the policy will boost domestic capacity and ensure that Nigeria’s oil wealth benefits its citizens.
Dare explained that the measure seeks to end Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products, which has drained foreign exchange for years despite the country’s status as a major crude oil producer.
“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,” he said.
According to him, the policy will favour local refineries such as Dangote and other modular plants, leading to price moderation, job creation, and increased industrial activity.
“This policy is therefore not a burden, but a bridge — from dependence to independence, from vulnerability to strength,” Dare added.
President Tinubu’s approval of the 15 per cent duty, conveyed through a letter dated October 21, 2025, followed a request by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to align import costs with domestic realities.
FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji said the move forms part of reforms aimed at promoting local refining, stabilising prices, and strengthening Nigeria’s energy security under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
