The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Fivers State branch has called for out right withdrawal of the proposed 15 percent import tarriff on fuel by the Federal Government.
Chairman of IPMAN in the state, Tekena Ikpaki, who stated this while reacting to the postponement of the policy by the Federal Government said postponing the implementation to first quarter of 2026 for a review has not provided any real solution to the challenges it is expected to create once implemented.
Ikpaki insisted that rather than mere postponement, the policy should be withdrawn indefinitely
He stressed that the timeframe within which the Federal Government plans to review and potentially implement the 15 percent tariff is too short to address the existing operational and infrastructural gaps in the petroleum sector.
The Rivers IPMAN chairman argued further that implementing the policy under the existing conditions in the country will put pressure on marketers and consumers alike.
“The decision to merely postpone the 15 percent tariff on imported petroleum products to first quarter of 2026 will do little more than delay the inevitable consequences of the policy. Such a temporary suspension does not address the fundamental issues at stake; it only pushes the economic burden forward while allowing the underlying challenges to persist.
“From my own perspective, what the nation requires at this moment is not a deferment but a complete removal of the tariff. Implementing this policy under current conditions when our domestic refining capacity remains grossly inadequate will only worsen supply constraints, inflate costs, and place unnecessary pressure on marketers and consumers alike, ” he said.
Ikpaki further asked the Federal Government to redirect its efforts towards revitalizing the nation’s refineries.
He maintained that Nigeria must ensure its refineries are functioning optimally and undergo extended test-runs to prove capacity and stability before introducing any policy that could impact product pricing, availability, or demand and supply dynamics.
“Before introducing such tariffs, we must first be able to boast of efficiency and reliability in our own refineries. It is only when Nigeria’s refining sector becomes stable, productive, and capable of meeting local demand that such policies can be effective and beneficial. Until then, imposing additional costs on imported products is counterproductive and detrimental to the energy sector and the wider economy.
“For these reasons, I strongly advocate for the complete withdrawal of the proposed tariff until our national refining infrastructure is truly functional and efficient, ” he added.
