A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State, Ayiri Emami, has expressed disapproval of the recently approved 15 percent ad valorem import duty on petrol and diesel. In an interview with journalists in Abuja, Emami stated that the new tariff would ultimately affect Nigerians negatively.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service secured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the import duty to protect domestic refineries. Following this, President Tinubu ordered the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to enforce the tariff immediately.

Emami urged President Tinubu to suspend the 15 percent import duty, citing the potential harm it could cause to ordinary Nigerians. He emphasized that any tax imposed on petroleum products would be passed on to consumers, exacerbating the existing struggles of Nigerians. Emami noted that the cost of fuel affects various aspects of life, including livelihoods such as fishing, where the increased cost of fuel could make it difficult for people to afford going out to fish.

Emami suggested that the government should explore alternative areas to generate revenue, rather than imposing additional taxes on petroleum products. He pointed out that even after the removal of the fuel subsidy, Nigerians had not seen significant positive changes, and therefore, introducing another tax would add to their burden.

The implementation of the 15 percent fuel import tariff is expected to have significant implications for Nigerians, who are already facing economic challenges. As the government moves forward with the new tariff, it remains to be seen how it will impact the lives of citizens and the overall economy. The concerns raised by Emami highlight the need for careful consideration of the potential effects of policy decisions on the general population.