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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Bloggers and Vloggers Content Creators Association in Nigeria (BAVCCA) and the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) have mounted pressure on the Federal Government to reverse the suspension of the 15 percent import duty on petrol.
BAVCCA National President, Ikechuwkwu Chukwunyere and COCSON National President, Husseini Abubakar, argued that the government’s decision was a direct attack on local refineries.
They also countered claims by the National President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, that Nigeria refinery’s output meets only about 40 percent of national needs.
According to them, Nigeria has achieved full energy independence, adding that as of today, the Dangote Refinery is loading and dispatching more than 104 million litres of refined petroleum products daily, over 57 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Jet fuel 20 million litres and 27 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) totalling 104 million litres of petroleum products.
Chukwunyere said: “Just when Nigerians should be enjoying the fruits of self-sufficiency, we woke up to the shocking news that the Federal Government has suspended the recently imposed 15 percent import duty on petroleum products until the first quarter of 2026. This is not policy, this is sabotage disguised as relief.
“We have more than enough locally refined fuel for every car, truck, generator and factory in Nigeria. Fuel importation is no longer a necessity, it is now a choice. And that choice is being made only by those who profit from our collective suffering.
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“Furthermore, we must address and debunk recent misleading claims, such as those from Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, suggesting that the refinery’s output meets only about 40 percent of national needs.
“This is simply not true. As of November 2025, the Dangote Refinery’s production is at 100 percent or more of Nigeria’s requirements, rendering such assertions outdated and inaccurate.
We urge all parties, including labour unions, to align with facts and support this achievement rather than undermine it for a narrow agenda.”
He added that suspension would make imported fuel cheaper than locally refined fuel, thereby creating an artificial price advantage for importers and rendering modular and large-scale local refineries uncompetitive.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to ban fuel importation, not just suspension of the 15 percent import duty.
“Direct that only locally refined products be sold in Nigeria as long as local production exceeds demand.
Set up a special task force to investigate and prosecute economic saboteurs in the downstream sector,” he added.
