15% Fuel Import Tariff Will Burden Nigerians, APC Chieftain Appeals to Tinubu — Faults FIRS Policy

By our Correspondent

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami, has expressed strong reservations over the Federal Government’s approval of a 15 per cent ad-valorem import duty on petrol and diesel imported into Nigeria.

The new tariff, according to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which obtained presidential approval from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is aimed at protecting domestic refineries and ensuring stability in the downstream oil sector.

FIRS Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, explained that the policy seeks to promote crude oil transactions in local currency, boost local refining capacity, and guarantee a steady and affordable supply of petroleum products nationwide. He added that the tariff would curb duty-free imports that could undermine local refineries and foster a fair, competitive environment in the downstream market.

President Tinubu had subsequently directed the FIRS and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to immediately commence implementation of the tariff.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Chief Emami — who is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of A & E Group, a company with interests in oil and gas, construction, and haulage — warned that the new import duty would place an additional burden on ordinary Nigerians.

He said:

> “Anyone advising Mr. President to impose a 15 per cent tax on petroleum at this time is not helping him. This policy will not hurt marketers — it will hurt ordinary Nigerians. Every tax imposed on petroleum products is ultimately borne by the people. Nigerians are already struggling and hungry.”

He further explained that the cost of fuel directly affects the livelihoods of many Nigerians, especially those in riverine areas who depend on fishing for survival.

> “In my community, when fuel prices rise, fishermen can’t afford to go out to sea. It’s not that there are no fish — it’s that we can’t reach them anymore,” he lamented.

Chief Emami urged the government to reconsider the decision and explore alternative revenue sources.

> “This is my government, and I know the need for revenue is real, but there are other areas to look into. Any adjustment in petroleum pricing always trickles down to the masses. For now, that 15 per cent should be set aside until the government provides more relief to Nigerians,” he said.

He concluded that the removal of fuel subsidy has not yet produced the expected positive impact on citizens’ welfare, stressing that adding a new tariff would only worsen existing economic hardships.

> “Some people around the President don’t care about the challenges he faces — they just want to create more problems. That’s my honest opinion on the matter,” he added.