Lagos State governorship aspirant, Mr. Funso Doherty of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has formally requested that the National Assembly investigate the recently sanctioned 15 per cent import duty on Premium Motor Spirit (petrol). Addressing his concerns in an open letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Doherty labeled the duty as misguided and poorly timed, cautioning that its enforcement would inevitably intensify the economic strain on Nigerian citizens.
President Bola Tinubu reportedly approved the new tariff following a recommendation from the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (now the Nigeria Revenue Service). The FIRS chief justified the levy as a mechanism to support domestic fuel manufacturers in achieving cost recovery, rather than a primary revenue-generation measure. Doherty refutes this defense, citing that prominent local producers, including the Dangote Refinery, already receive considerable fiscal benefits (such as tax waivers) from their status in export processing zones, rendering the need for additional import tariff protection questionable and ultimately placing an unfair financial load on consumers.
Mr. Doherty specifically urged the National Assembly to investigate the introduction of the import duty, calling for a transparent process.
He recommended that the legislature invite key bodies like the NMDPRA and the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, along with industry operators, to determine if this “additional burden” on Nigerians is justified. Doherty insisted that the proceedings should be open to the press to ensure public awareness.
Furthermore, he issued a stark warning: the proposed duty could add approximately ₦100 to the current pump price of petrol. He argued that since citizens are “already severely stretched financially,” this increase would be “devastating,” potentially triggering a new wave of inflation and worsening financial distress across the country.
