Tinubu Spokesperson Sunday Dare Defends 15% Fuel Import Duty, Calls It a ‘Bridge’ to Price Moderation

Sunday Dare, spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, has moved to quell public anxiety over the recently approved 15 per cent ad valorem import duty on petrol and diesel, asserting that the policy is a “bridge” to national prosperity and not a burden on Nigerians.

Dependable NG reports that Dare made these assertions in a statement released on his X account on Friday, responding to the diverse reactions from citizens, stakeholders, and economists concerning the new tariffs and their immediate impact on fuel prices. The new tariff, which is expected to push petrol prices to over N1,000 per litre for most stations that rely on imported supply, has drawn criticism, notably from APC chieftain Ayiri Emami who warned it would bring hardship.

In his clarification, Dare stated that the policy is a “bold and strategic move” designed to fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s energy landscape. He explained that the tariff is meant to reverse the long-standing trend of fuel and diesel import dependency by encouraging local refining and boosting domestic capacity. By making imported fuel less competitive, the government is deliberately “tilting the market in favour of local refineries such as Dangote and other modular plants,” thereby laying the groundwork for a self-sustaining energy sector.

Dare emphasized that the core objective is to ensure that Nigeria’s oil wealth translates directly into national prosperity, instead of draining foreign exchange and exporting jobs. He assured the public that as local refining capacity ramps up and domestic supply strengthens, the prices of petrol are expected to moderate while national jobs, investment, and industrial activity will expand. He concluded his defence by stating, “This policy is therefore not a burden, but a bridge — from dependence to independence, from vulnerability to strength.” As of Friday morning, Nigerians were purchasing petrol at N950 to N960 per litre in Abuja, a price expected to rise significantly upon the implementation of the new 15 per cent tariff.