FG Postpones 15% Import Duty On Petrol, Diesel to 2026

By Chinedu Echianu

The Federal Government has approved the postponement of the implementation of the 15 per cent ad-valorem import duty on petrol and diesel until the first quarter of 2026, clarifying that the suspension is not indefinite as earlier speculated.

The deferment was formally sanctioned by President Bola Tinubu following a detailed request from the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji. His request, dated November 7, 2025, came after wide-ranging consultations with key stakeholders to evaluate market readiness and ensure a smooth rollout of the levy.

In the letter titled “Deferment of the Commencement of the Implementation of the Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) and Diesel Import Duty,” Adedeji stressed the importance of ensuring that local refining capacity, technical frameworks, and operational systems are sufficiently prepared to avoid supply disruptions once the policy takes effect.

The 15 per cent import duty—approved on October 21, 2025—was designed to encourage domestic refining, stabilise fuel prices in the downstream sector, and create a level playing field between imported and locally produced fuel.

Earlier on Thursday, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced the suspension of the proposed tariff, effectively reversing an earlier policy direction aimed at reducing reliance on fuel imports.

Confirming the suspension in an interview with a national daily, the NMDPRA’s Director of Public Affairs, George Ene-Ita, stated that the duty was “no longer in view and not implementable at this time.”

When asked whether the decision had presidential approval, Ene-Ita affirmed that it did, aligning the agency’s announcement with the formal approval already granted by President Tinubu.