CSOs Applaud Tinubu’s 15% Fuel Import Tariff as Step Toward Energy Independence
A coalition of civil society organisations under the banner 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 move as a landmark policy decision that will end the era of fake fuel dumping and chronic scarcity that has hampered Nigeria’s energy sector for decades.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the coalition’s convener, Mr. Agabi Emmanuel, said the tariff is a strategic measure designed to protect Nigeria’s emerging domestic refineries from unfair competition by foreign importers. According to him, the import duty will “shield local production from predatory pricing and restore confidence in Nigeria’s refining capacity.”
Emmanuel emphasized that the decision would drastically reduce the influx of adulterated fuels that damage engines and pollute the environment. He noted that local refineries such as Dangote, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna would now be able to operate at full capacity without fear of being undercut by substandard or underpriced imports. “This is not a revenue-grab; it’s a safeguard for our industrial sovereignty,” he said.
The coalition’s 23-point communiqué urged Nigerians to view the policy as a long-term investment in energy independence rather than a short-term inconvenience. Emmanuel dismissed claims that the tariff promotes monopoly, stating that regulatory mechanisms are already in place to ensure fair competition. The group also called on the National Assembly to implement social cushioning measures—such as targeted tax relief and cash transfers—to ease the impact on vulnerable households.
In its closing remarks, the coalition praised President Tinubu as “a visionary leader” committed to national rebirth and economic transformation. It further appealed to international partners like the World Bank and African Development Bank to support Nigeria with concessional financing and technical expertise to enhance the policy’s impact. “From dependence to dignity—that is the promise of this 15% tariff,” Emmanuel declared.
source: The Guardian