The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the Federal Government for withdrawing the proposed 15 percent import duty on petrol and diesel, describing the reversal as another example of poor planning and inconsistent policymaking under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the government’s decision to drop the tariff barely days after it was announced shows that the administration is not thinking through its policies before presenting them to the public.
The Federal Government had earlier proposed the new duty as part of plans to generate more revenue and regulate fuel imports. However, the announcement sparked widespread fear among Nigerians, who are already struggling with high living costs following the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023 and the sharp depreciation of the Naira.
Amid growing criticism, the government reversed the policy, stating that it had considered concerns raised by stakeholders. But the ADC believes the reversal exposes deeper problems in the administration.
According to Abdullahi, the government’s U-turn on the fuel tariff is not an isolated case but part of a troubling pattern. He said the administration has reversed itself about seven times in less than two years, raising doubts about its ability to plan, analyse and implement policies.
“While we welcome the decision of the government to reverse itself on the wrong-headed policy, we are concerned that this reversal is about the seventh occasion in two years where this government would announce a policy or decision and immediately reverse itself,” the statement said.
Abdullahi added that the latest incident shows “a government that is confused, unsure, and merely experimenting with governance.”
The ADC reminded Nigerians that it had earlier warned about the consequences of the proposed tariff. On October 31, the party cautioned that imposing a 15 percent levy on imported petrol would push pump prices even higher—possibly beyond N1,000 per litre.
Such an increase, it said, would worsen the suffering of ordinary Nigerians, especially families, commuters, transporters, farmers and small businesses who are still grappling with the impact of subsidy removal without any robust social protection in place.
Nigeria has faced persistent fuel price instability since the government stopped petrol subsidy payments in 2023. Although the move was aimed at reducing government spending and attracting private investment into local refining, it also triggered steep price increases, inflation and higher transportation costs. With a weakened currency, the pressure on basic household expenses has grown even heavier.
The ADC said the proposed fuel tariff would have added unnecessary pressure to an already fragile economy.
Another key concern raised by the ADC is the government’s decision to consider a tax on imported fuel at a time when local production remains unstable.
Although Nigeria has made progress with the commencement of operations at the Dangote Refinery and some modular refineries, the country still depends heavily on imported petrol to meet domestic demand. The ADC questioned why the government would impose a new levy on fuel imports when local alternatives are insufficient.
The party noted that these were the same concerns later cited by the Federal Government when it reversed the decision—an indication, it said, that the administration may not have carried out proper analysis before announcing the tariff.
“This raises doubts about whether proper planning takes place within the administration,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC criticised what it described as frequent policy flip-flops by the Tinubu administration, arguing that such inconsistency damages public trust and creates uncertainty in the economy.
In the case of the fuel tariff, the party pointed out that different government agencies gave contradictory explanations after the reversal. While one agency said the tariff had only been suspended, another insisted it had been completely cancelled.
The ADC said these conflicting statements reflect a lack of coordination and clarity within the government.
“This inconsistency portrays a government that is uncertain and working at cross purposes, to the detriment of citizens who deserve coherent leadership,” the party said.
Since coming into office, the Tinubu administration has introduced several economic reforms aimed at stabilising the economy. These include subsidy removal, currency unification, floating the Naira and attracting foreign investment. However, some of these policies have produced harsh short-term effects, drawing criticism from labour unions, political parties and civil society groups.
The government has also reversed or amended several policies shortly after announcing them. These include changes to customs duties, foreign exchange directives, education loan guidelines, relocation of some ministries, and now the fuel import duty plan.
The ADC urged the Tinubu administration to recognise that governing a country as complex as Nigeria requires deliberate planning, wide consultation and critical thinking.
“It is not enough to announce policies,” the party said. “There must be careful judgment, impact assessment and coordination across government agencies.”
The party highlighted that it would continue to speak up against decisions that may harm the welfare of Nigerians, especially those already struggling with inflation, high food prices, transportation challenges and the rising cost of energy.
Abdullahi concluded by restating the party’s commitment to advocating for responsible leadership and policies that protect citizens rather than worsen their hardship.
