Appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: Sustain the 15% Fuel Import Duty and Prioritize Local Refining

Press Statement

The Coalition of Yoruba Students and Youth Movement (COYSYM), together with the National Association of Odùduwà Students (NAOS), is deeply concerned over the recent announcement suspending the 15% fuel import duty. This reversal threatens Nigeria’s energy security, undermines local refining capacity, and compromises the economic interests of millions of Nigerians.

Mr. President, we appeal to you to sustain the 15% fuel import duty as previously announced. This duty is not a burden. It is a strategic tool to protect Nigeria from being a dumping ground for adulterated and substandard imported fuel while empowering local refineries to operate at full capacity.

We further urge you to take bold and visionary action by considering a complete ban on fuel importation into Nigeria. Our nation has the capacity, through Dangote and other local refineries, to meet domestic demand, create jobs, generate foreign exchange, and reduce dependence on imports.

In line with this, COYSYM and NAOS appeal for the following actions:

1. Immediate and full enforcement of the 15% fuel import duty, reversing any decision to suspend it.

2. Implementation of a total ban on fuel importation, ensuring that all petroleum products in Nigeria are locally refined.

3. 100% allocation of Nigeria’s crude oil to local refineries, empowering domestic industries, creating jobs, and securing Nigeria’s energy independence.

We call on all Nigerians; citizens, lawmakers, civil society, and industry stakeholders to support this appeal and hold the government accountable to policies that prioritize Nigeria first.

Mr. President, this is a historic moment. Sustaining the import duty and banning fuel imports is not only an economic imperative but a patriotic duty. COYSYM and NAOS pledge our unwavering support to ensure Nigeria achieves self-reliance, prosperity, and energy security.