The Nigerian Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (NCCSO) has described the decision of the Federal Government to suspend the 15% import duty on petrol and diesel as a setback for Nigeria’s refining future.

National Spokesperson for the coalition, Comrade Mustapha Ahmed, made this observation on Thursday in Abuja while reacting to a memo approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on November 7, 2025, concerning the matter.

According to Ahmed, the deferment is a temporary win for importers and a setback for Nigeria’s refining future. He urged President Tinubu to remain resolute and protect Nigeria’s local industries from external manipulation.

Arguing that the deferment to Q1 2026 is wrong and should be totally discouraged with no further extensions, he stressed the need for the government to resist pressures from international traders and uphold its commitment to energy independence.

“The NCCSO expresses deep concern over the Federal Government’s decision to defer the commencement of the 15% ad-valorem import duty on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and diesel to the first quarter of 2026, as contained in the memo approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on November 7, 2025.

“While the decision is presented as an administrative adjustment for ‘technical alignment,’ it is in fact a strategic victory for foreign fuel importers and their local collaborators, whose agenda is to keep Nigeria dependent on imported products and frustrate the growth of local refineries such as Dangote Refinery and other modular plants ready for operation.

“However, this deferment gives importers time to flood the market with imported fuel, thereby undermining local production and discouraging investment.

“All relevant agencies should monitor imports to prevent market distortion during the deferment period,” he added.

The Federal Government had announced the suspension of the implementation of the 15% ad-valorem import duty earlier approved on imported PMS and diesel, following widespread concern that the policy could trigger fresh increases in fuel prices and worsen inflation.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced the suspension in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, George Ene-Ita.

The duty, which was approved by President Tinubu in October 2025, formed part of a fiscal measure aimed at aligning import costs with local production realities and supporting the growth of domestic refineries.

The approval, conveyed through a letter by the President’s Private Secretary, Damilotun Aderemi, was based on a proposal from the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji.