Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the newly introduced 5% tax on all refined fossil fuel sales, including petrol and diesel.
Reacting on his official X handle late Wednesday, Obi described the tax as an unnecessary burden that will worsen the hardship already facing Nigerians. He argued that the levy should have been delayed until citizens begin to feel real improvements from Tinubu’s many promises.
He noted that millions of Nigerians are already struggling with the cost of transportation, and adding a 5% tax will only make things worse. Obi questioned why the government, after boasting about meeting revenue targets, is still imposing new taxes instead of easing the suffering of citizens.
Obi also pointed out that the much-touted alternative, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), has become unaffordable, rising from ₦230 to ₦450, while the promised subsidies have quietly disappeared. He stressed that if Nigeria’s revenues are indeed “excessive,” they should first be used to fund education, healthcare, and poverty reduction, not new taxes.
According to him, true leadership is not about piling more burdens on citizens but about showing care, compassion, and reducing suffering.
