Tinubu Delays 15% Fuel Import Fee to Early 2026

Nigeria’s leader, President Bola Tinubu, has put off a new 15 per cent tax on incoming petrol and diesel until the first three months of next year. The hold-up aims to give local fuel makers more time to ramp up output and avoid price jumps at pumps that could hit everyday buyers.

The tax body shared the update on Thursday, saying the shift came after chats with oil bosses and sellers. It will now start in January 2026, instead of right away. The fee targets the worth of foreign fuel loads to nudge folks towards home-made supplies and cut heavy spending on imports.

Top officials say the pause lets refineries like the big one in Lekki polish their work and fill gaps without outside floods messing up the market. They hope it keeps things steady for drivers and firms that need fuel to run.

This tweak builds on the first plan, which got cheers from business leaders for guarding local plants but sparked fears of higher costs. The delay should ease that worry for now, while still pushing the country to make its own energy.