By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vehemently opposed President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a new 15% import duty on petrol and diesel, labelling it an “insensitive and misguided” move that will deepen the economic crisis for Nigerians.
In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party warned the administration against “pushing the people to the wall” with policies that exacerbate suffering.
The ADC cautioned that the new levy could force the pump price of petrol beyond ₦1,000 per litre, making life “even more unbearable” for families, commuters, and businesses already struggling with the removal of fuel subsidies and currency devaluation.
The party also questioned the government’s rationale for the tax, which is purportedly to protect domestic refining investments.
It pointed to the recent collapse of the rehabilitated Port Harcourt refinery just five months after a $1.5 billion overhaul as evidence of a flawed strategy.
“While we support private investments in the energy sector, policies meant to protect such investments must also protect the people and put their interests first,” the statement read.
The ADC demanded the immediate reversal of the import duty, asserting that a government unable to run its own refineries has no business taxing those who rely on imported fuel.
“Nigerians deserve a government that plans, not one that panics,” the party stated. “Economic growth that condemns the majority to a life of hardship and misery is ultimately destructive.”