The presidency has stated that the 15 percent import duty on diesel and premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, is intended as a temporary measure, not an additional hardship.
President Bola Tinubu conveyed the approval in a letter dated October 21, 2025, following the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s (FIRS) request that the 15 percent duty be applied to the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) to align import costs with domestic realities.
The letter also stated that the implementation of the import duty will increase the price of a litre of petrol by an estimated ₦99.72 kobo.
In a statement via X on Friday, Special Adviser on Media & Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, described the approval as a bold and strategic move aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape.
According to the presidential aide, the new policy is designed to encourage local refining, boost domestic capacity, and ensure that Nigeria’s oil wealth translates directly into national prosperity.
He said, “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.
“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.
“By making imported fuel less competitive, the government is tilting the market in favour of local refineries such as Dangote and other modular plants, laying the groundwork for a self-sustaining and resilient energy sector.
“As local refining ramps up and supply strengthens, prices are expected to moderate while jobs, investment, and industrial activity expand.
“This policy is therefore not a burden, but a bridge from dependence to independence, from vulnerability to strength. @officialABAT @OfficialAPCNg”
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