15% Tariff: Nigerians Go Pay Extra ₦1 Trillion For Petrol Every Year

Nigerians go soon dey pay close to ₦1 trillion extra every year for fuel as Federal Government don approve 15% import tariff on Premium Motor Spirit (petrol). Di report from di Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) show say between January and September 2025, Nigeria dey import around 26.75 million litres of petrol every day. With di new tariff wey go add about ₦99.72 per litre, di country go dey pay around ₦2.67 billion daily wey go turn to almost ₦973.64 billion yearly, and na ordinary Nigerians go bear di cost through higher pump price. President Bola Tinubu approve di 15% import duty for petrol and diesel to boost local refining and raise government revenue. Di approval come from proposal wey FIRS boss Zacch Adedeji submit, saying di move go strengthen naira, balance market pricing, and push di government Renewed Hope Agenda for energy security. Adedeji talk say di policy no be to make money alone, but to stop duty-free imports wey dey spoil competition for local refineries and to make sure say Nigeria dey produce and refine within di country. Di new rule go start after a 30-day transition wey go end on November 21, 2025.

But di policy don cause serious wahala for oil marketers and industry people. Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) talk say di 15% tariff no match di spirit of deregulation, and e fit make petrol costlier, push inflation up, and weaken small businesses. IPMAN spokesperson Chinedu Ukadike talk say government suppose encourage local refineries by reducing tax, no be to put more tariff on importation. Oil analyst Jeremiah Olatide from PetroleumPrice.ng call am double-edged policy e go boost government income but worsen hardship for Nigerians wey already dey buy fuel at ₦800–₦900 per litre. He warn say di move go raise inflation and put extra pressure for Yuletide season. Meanwhile, CPPE (Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise) support di policy, call am “strategic protectionism” wey fit help Dangote and other refineries grow and reduce import wahala. Dem still urge government to combine di tariff with better infrastructure, cheap loans, and reliable energy so e go truly help di economy and no just make life harder for Nigerians.