CSOs hail FG over 15% tariff on fuel importation

A coalition of civil society organisations, under the umbrella of the Coalition of Civil Rights Activists, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving a 15% import duty on refined petroleum products. The group described the policy as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s history, one that will finally end the dumping of substandard fuels and the recurring fuel scarcity that has plagued the nation for decades.

Speaking at a press conference held on Sunday in Abuja, the convener, Mr. Agabi Emmanuel, said the tariff is not a revenue-grabbing measure but a strategic tool designed to protect Nigeria’s emerging domestic refineries from predatory underpricing by foreign importers.

He said, “This 15% duty will stop the flood of fake, adulterated products that have destroyed engines, polluted our air, and endangered lives.

“It will also guarantee steady supply because local refineries — Dangote, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna — will now run at full throttle without fear of being undercut by smuggled or below-cost imports.”

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Reading from a 23-point communiqué titled ‘Full Text of Speech by the Coalition of Civil Rights Activists to Laud Mr. President on the 15% Petroleum Import Tax’, the coalition maintained that short-term price adjustments at the pump are a small price to pay for long-term energy sovereignty.

Emmanuel dismissed critics who label the policy as pro-monopoly, stressing that regulatory safeguards already exist to prevent any single player from dominating the market. He described the initiative as structural transformation rather than favouritism.

The coalition urged the National Assembly to fast-track social compensation packages, including targeted tax reliefs and cash transfers, to cushion the impact on vulnerable households. It also called on the Presidency to publish a transparent implementation timetable and revenue allocation framework within 14 days.

Emmanuel described President Tinubu as “a seer, a unifier, a master strategist, and a compassionate leader who truly cares for his people.”

He urged Nigerians to remain patient and vigilant, noting that the 15% tariff marks Nigeria’s transition from dependence to dignity.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE