The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has attributed the Federal Government’s reversal of its plan to impose a 15 percent import duty on petrol and diesel to the party’s earlier warnings, describing the abandoned tariff as another example of the Tinubu administration’s lack of policy clarity and consistency.
In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC recalled its October 31, 2025 advisory in which it cautioned the government that the proposed tariff would intensify the economic hardship already inflicted on Nigerians by fuel subsidy removal, currency devaluation, and escalating living costs.
While commending the administration for eventually retracing its steps, the party noted that the pattern of announcing policies only to reverse them shortly afterwards had become a troubling hallmark of the current government.
The full statement reads:
“Following our statement of October 31st, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is pleased to note that the Federal Government has heeded our call by reversing its ill-conceived plan to impose a 15 percent import duty on petrol and diesel.
“Although we welcome the reversal of this wrong-headed decision, we remain concerned that this is about the seventh time in two years that the government has announced a major policy only to backtrack almost immediately.
“As we stated in our earlier reaction, the new levy would have pushed the pump price of petrol beyond ₦1,000 per litre. Such an outcome would have made life even more unbearable for families, commuters, transporters, farmers, and small businesses already overwhelmed by subsidy removal without social protection and currency devaluation without safeguards.
“We also questioned why the government contemplated taxing imported fuel without first establishing sufficient local production capacity.
“It is quite telling that these same arguments form the basis of the government’s reversal. This raises serious questions about whether any critical thinking or impact analysis occurs before policies are announced. What has become increasingly clear is that President Tinubu is running a government of trial and error—one that experiments as it goes along.
“Even more troubling is the lack of coherence among government agencies, which have offered conflicting explanations for the reversal. While one agency claimed the policy was only postponed, another insisted it was no longer under consideration. This level of disarray reflects a government that is confused, unsure, and working at dangerous cross purposes. Nigerians deserve better.
“We urge the Tinubu administration to understand that public office is a solemn responsibility, not a laboratory for endless experimentation. The ADC will continue to stand firmly with Nigerians and speak out against any decision that threatens their wellbeing.”
