This Will Hurt Ordinary Nigerians”: APC Chieftain Ayiri Emami Faults Tinubu on 15% Fuel Import Tariff ABUJA
– A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami, has issued a sharp rebuke of President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a 15 per cent ad-valorem import duty on petrol and diesel, warning the move will “worsen the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.” Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Emami, who is the CEO of the oil and haulage firm A & E Group, urged the President to immediately suspend the policy until more economic relief is provided to citizens. “Anybody advising Mr President to impose a 15 per cent tax on petroleum right now is not doing him any good,” Emami stated. “This kind of policy will not hurt marketers — it will hurt ordinary Nigerians.” Government Cites Protection for Local Refineries The new tariff was initiated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and approved by President Tinubu in an October 21, 2025, letter directing immediate enforcement. According to FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji, the policy is a strategic move to protect domestic refineries, including the Dangote Refinery and modular plants in Edo, Rivers, and Imo. The government’s stated goal is to “strengthen local refining capacity” and “ensure a stable, affordable supply of petroleum products,” reducing Nigeria’s high dependence on imports, which still account for roughly 67 per cent of national demand. “Nigerians Are Already Hungry” Emami forcefully countered the government’s position, arguing that the timing is wrong and the burden will be passed directly to the public. “Whatever tax you put on petroleum goes straight back to the people on the streets. Nigerians are already hungry and struggling,” he said. According to official projections, the 15 per cent duty could increase the landing cost of petrol by approximately \approx N99.72 per litre, potentially pushing pump prices in Lagos to around \approx N964.72 per litre. Emami warned that this cost has already crippled livelihoods, particularly in rural and riverine communities. “When you buy fuel, it determines whether you can even go out to fish,” he explained. “It’s not that the fish are gone — it’s that we can’t afford to reach them anymore.” He called for the tariff to be “kept aside” and questioned the tangible benefits of previous economic reforms. “Even after removing the fuel subsidy, we haven’t seen much positive reflection. Things are still hard. So why add another burden?” Emami asked. The APC stalwart concluded with a warning that the President might be receiving bad advice. “Some people don’t care about Mr President or what he’s going through — they just want to create more problems. Those are my honest opinions on the matter.”
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