The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted the Federal Government’s introduction of a 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel, describing the policy as ill-timed, insensitive, and economically reckless.
In a statement signed by its National Spokesman, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of implementing anti-people economic reforms that have only compounded the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.
Abdullahi said the decision to impose a new tariff at a time of worsening inflation, naira depreciation, and rising unemployment “betrays a lack of empathy and a disconnect from the realities of everyday citizens.”
President Tinubu, through a directive dated October 21, 2025, had approved the immediate enforcement of a 15 per cent ad valorem import duty on petrol and diesel under what was termed a “market-responsive import tariff framework.” The order, conveyed by his Private Secretary, Damilotun Aderemi, followed a recommendation by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Zacch Adedeji.
The new policy, which government officials say is intended to protect local refineries and encourage self-sufficiency in fuel production, has been widely criticised by industry stakeholders and civil society groups. Petroleum marketers have already warned that the measure could raise the pump price of petrol beyond ₦1,000 per litre.
The ADC, in its reaction, said the government’s justification for the levy was untenable, particularly given the lingering failure of the Port Harcourt refinery — which, despite a $1.5 billion rehabilitation project, collapsed five months after resuming operations and incurred a reported loss of ₦366.2 billion.
“The African Democratic Congress is deeply concerned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of a 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel,” the statement read. “Coming at a time when Nigerians are already suffocating under the weight of the so-called Renewed Hope Agenda, this fuel tax is both insensitive and misguided. It raises the question of whether this administration ever considers the pain its policies inflict on the people.”
The party said the decision would worsen inflation, erode household income, and cripple small-scale enterprises still struggling to recover from the removal of fuel subsidy and the twin shocks of currency devaluation and high interest rates.
“If this levy pushes petrol beyond ₦1,000 per litre, life will become unbearable for families, commuters, and traders. The government cannot continue to pursue economic growth that condemns the majority to misery,” Abdullahi warned.
He added that while the ADC supports private sector participation in the energy industry, the government must prioritise citizens’ welfare over revenue generation.
“Any administration that cannot effectively run its own refineries has no moral right to tax those who sustain the economy through their sweat and sacrifice,” he said. “Until domestic refining becomes viable, taxing fuel imports will only deepen the hardship of Nigerians.”
The ADC described the Tinubu government’s economic management style as “a trial-and-error experiment driven by self-interest rather than sound policy,” calling on the President to immediately reverse the duty and adopt a more transparent, people-centred approach to reform.
“The government should focus on building capacity and restoring public confidence. Nigerians deserve leaders who plan, not those who panic,” Abdullahi concluded.
