By Atoyebi Nike
The Federal Government has suspended the proposed 15 percent ad-valorem import duty on petrol and diesel.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced this in a statement on Thursday, assuring Nigerians that fuel supply across the country remains stable despite increased demand during the peak season.
“It should be noted that the implementation of the 15% ad-valorem import duty on imported Premium Motor Spirit and Diesel is no longer in view,” the regulator stated.
President Bola Tinubu had approved the import duty last month in a letter dated October 21, 2025, addressed to the Federal Inland Revenue Service and NMDPRA. The decision had sparked concern among oil marketers, who warned it would drive up prices and strain the supply chain.
NMDPRA said both domestic refineries and importation are providing a steady inflow of petroleum products to ensure stability in the market. It also cautioned marketers against hoarding, panic buying, or arbitrary price hikes.
Meanwhile, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery backed the government’s earlier plan, saying the duty would help protect local refiners and discourage product dumping. The refinery said it currently loads about 45 million litres of petrol and 25 million litres of diesel daily.
