The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of potentially introducing a five per cent tax on petrol immediately after the 2027 presidential election if he secures another term in office.
The opposition party warned that the proposed levy could further worsen the financial difficulties confronting Nigerians by increasing fuel prices, transportation fares and the cost of essential commodities.
The ADC alleged that the government was delaying the implementation of the tax to avoid provoking public anger before the next general election.
The party’s position followed remarks by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, regarding the possible introduction of fuel taxation during an interview on the sidelines of the 2026 annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Bangkok, Thailand.
ADC Accuses Tinubu of Delaying Fuel Tax
The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, claimed that the administration could activate the proposed levy after the election, citing the Nigeria Tax Act, which he said Tinubu signed into law in June 2025.
Abdullahi alleged that the government could announce the tax during the president’s inauguration following a successful re-election campaign, drawing a comparison with the removal of petrol subsidies in 2023.
The opposition party estimated that a five per cent surcharge on petrol currently selling for N1,450 per litre would increase the pump price to N1,522.50.
It argued that the additional charge would place further pressure on households, transport operators and small businesses already struggling with rising operating expenses.
The party also criticised the administration’s economic direction, insisting that citizens needed measures to ease their financial burdens rather than additional taxation following the removal of fuel subsidies.
According to the ADC, imposing another levy would make daily living more expensive and undermine efforts by Nigerians to recover from existing economic pressures.
Party Questions Government’s Justification
The opposition also challenged the argument that fuel taxation could provide funding for road construction and help stabilise petrol prices.
It maintained that the government should demonstrate tangible improvements in infrastructure and economic conditions before requiring citizens to shoulder additional financial responsibilities.
The ADC further recalled that Tinubu, while serving as Lagos State governor in December 2003, opposed a proposed fuel tax under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, describing the measure as double taxation.
The party accused the president of adopting a different position from the one he reportedly held during his tenure as governor.
It subsequently called on Nigerians to support a production subsidy proposal associated with its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, arguing that the alternative could help reduce petrol prices and living expenses.
Oyedele Denies Immediate Fuel Tax Plans
However, Oyedele has rejected reports suggesting that the Federal Government intends to introduce the levy once economic conditions improve.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, the minister said his comments during an ARISE News interview had been misrepresented, describing reports about the proposed timing of the tax as fake news.
Oyedele explained that fuel taxation would only be considered when economic conditions had stabilised and citizens’ earnings could accommodate the additional costs.
He noted that fuel taxes constitute between 20 and 80 per cent of pump prices in certain countries, while several African nations impose multiple levies on petroleum products.
The minister also argued that introducing the tax while petrol subsidies remained in place would have been counterproductive, as the government would effectively bear the financial burden.
He added that implementing the measure immediately after subsidy removal would have been insensitive to Nigerians.
Oyedele maintained that the administration’s priority should be increasing incomes faster than prices rise, rather than attempting to artificially suppress fuel costs.
He stressed that any future taxation would depend on prevailing economic conditions and the population’s ability to bear the expense, rather than an intention to impose additional hardship on citizens.
