President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of a 15 percent import duty on petrol and diesel has sparked widespread discussion, with many calling it a daring but necessary move to reshape Nigeria’s energy landscape. The policy, according to Sunday Dare, the president’s special adviser on media and public communication, is aimed at reducing the nation’s heavy dependence on imported fuel and encouraging local production.
Dare explained that for decades, Nigeria — despite being a leading crude oil producer — has relied on imported petroleum products, draining foreign reserves and limiting job creation. “It’s no longer news that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel — a bold and strategic move aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape,” he said.
He emphasized that the policy seeks to reverse years of economic leakage by promoting local refining and strengthening domestic capacity. The new import duty, he added, will make imported fuel less attractive while giving an edge to refineries such as the Dangote Refinery and other emerging modular plants across the country.
According to Dare, as these local refineries ramp up production, Nigerians can expect more stable fuel prices, new job opportunities, and a stronger economy built on local energy independence. “By making imported fuel less competitive, government is tilting the market in favour of local refineries, laying the groundwork for a self-sustaining and resilient energy sector,” he explained.
He further urged citizens to see the move not as an additional burden but as an essential step toward national prosperity. “This policy is therefore not a burden, but a bridge — from dependence to independence, from vulnerability to strength,” Dare stated.
The long-term vision, he added, is to create an energy ecosystem where Nigeria refines its crude, empowers local industries, and reclaims its place as an energy powerhouse in Africa — one driven by innovation, sustainability, and self-sufficiency.
