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THE 15 PERCENT ON PETROL AND DIESEL IMPORTS- A BRIDGE. NOT A BURDEN. 

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. 

For years, the nation has depended heavily on imported fuel despite being a leading crude oil producer, draining foreign exchange and exporting jobs that should have been created at home. 

This new policy is designed to reverse that trend by encouraging local refining, boosting domestic capacity, and ensuring that Nigeria’s oil wealth translates directly into national prosperity. 

By making imported fuel less competitive, government is tilting the market in favour of local refineries such as Dangote and other modular plants, laying the groundwork for a self-sustaining and resilient energy sector.

As local refining ramps up and supply strengthens, prices are expected to moderate while jobs, investment, and industrial activity expand. 

This policy is therefore not a burden, but a bridge — from dependence to independence, from vulnerability to strength.