The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has officially thrown its weight behind the federal government’s decision to impose a 15 per cent import tariff on petrol and diesel, describing it as a strategic measure aligned with the “Made-in-Nigeria” agenda.
In a press statement, MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi‑Kadir, applauded the move as a patriotic and industrial-policy instrument that supports local value-addition, energy sovereignty, and economic transformation. He argued the tariff is “a rightful, deliberately designed policy instrument intended to protect and encourage domestic producers, curb dumping, and create a stable environment for local refiners to thrive.”
According to Ajayi-Kadir, the import duty is meant to be more than just a revenue measure; it signals a commitment to reversing decades of over-reliance on imported refined fuels. The intention is to “strengthen domestic refining capacity, conserve foreign exchange, and advance Nigeria’s long-term industrialisation objectives.”
While expressing support, MAN also issued cautions: they called for transparent, efficient, and well-coordinated implementation to ensure benefits reach both industry and consumers, and to safeguard against unintended cost burdens or anti-competitive behaviour.
At the same time, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) were directed by the administration of Bola Tinubu to implement the tariff as part of a broader “market-responsive import tariff framework”.
The plan seeks to tilt the cost dynamics of imported fuels so that domestic refiners can compete on a more level playing field and the country can begin to lessen its dependence on refined fuel imports. Analysts note that this move is particularly timely given Nigeria still imports a substantial share of its petrol and diesel supply, even as large-scale domestic refining capacity comes online.
By reducing fuel imports, Nigeria stands to conserve scarce foreign exchange and redirect funds toward domestic production. The 15 percent tariff may raise landing costs for imported fuel, but it also aims to bolster local refining, generate jobs, and broaden the non-oil revenue base, which are key elements of Nigeria’s growth-and-diversification strategy.
