ADC Slams Tinubu’s 15% Fuel Import Duty, Says Nigerians Can’t Breathe

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to approve a 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel, describing the move as harsh and insensitive to Nigerians already battling economic hardship.

In a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said while it supports private sector participation in the energy industry, the government must not worsen citizens’ suffering in the name of reform.

According to government insiders, the new import duty aims to protect local refineries and stabilise the oil downstream sector. But the ADC believes the decision will do the exact opposite by driving up fuel prices.

Abdullahi questioned the logic behind the policy, recalling how the Port Harcourt refinery collapsed barely five months after a $1.5 billion rehabilitation project, which led to a ₦366.2 billion loss.

He described the new levy as “insensitive and misguided,” warning that it could push the pump price of petrol beyond ₦1,000 per litre.

“At a time when Nigerians are suffocating under Tinubu’s so-called Renewed Hope Agenda, this fuel tax feels more like renewed hardship,” Abdullahi said. “Families, transporters, farmers, and small businesses are barely surviving the impact of subsidy removal and currency devaluation.”

The party accused the government of adopting “trial-and-error policies” that show little regard for ordinary citizens. It called on Tinubu to immediately withdraw the import duty and focus on building transparent local refining capacity.

“A government that cannot run its own refineries has no moral right to tax those keeping the economy running through their sweat,” the statement added.

The ADC further argued that since imported fuel still accounts for about 60 per cent of national supply, any tax designed to discourage imports would only make life tougher for the people.

The party urged the federal government to focus on sustainable energy solutions, transparent investment, and real reforms that bring relief not more pain to Nigerians.