Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has criticised President Bola Tinubu for approving a 15 per cent import duty on refined petroleum products, describing the move as “anti-people” and detrimental to Nigerians already facing economic hardship.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Adebayo accused Tinubu of excessive taxation, saying the President’s fiscal policies were pushing citizens to the brink.
“President Tinubu is a clever tax collector. He wants to collect taxes on everything — if care isn’t taken, he’ll soon tax the air we breathe. Just give him time; he’ll get there,” Adebayo remarked.
He argued that the tariff contradicts the progressive ideals Tinubu once championed during his days in the Social Democratic Party and the “Hope ’93” campaign era of MKO Abiola.
“It’s an anti-people decision and shows how far the new Tinubu has drifted. The Tinubu who followed Abiola around in those days has changed sides — now, citizens are treated like customers. If you have twins or triplets, he’ll probably think of introducing a multiple birth tax. It’s all about collecting more money, and that’s wrong,” he added.
Adebayo warned that the new import duty would worsen inflation and increase the cost of petrol for ordinary Nigerians.
“If you impose a 15 per cent tariff on imported fuel, the consumers are the ones who will bear the cost at the pump,” he said.
He also criticised the Tinubu administration for failing to revive Nigeria’s refineries despite billions of naira spent on turnaround maintenance.
“You are the reason we can’t meet domestic fuel demand. The President is the Minister of Petroleum, yet the refineries remain idle. That inefficiency is now being passed on to Nigerians through higher taxes. Am I the reason the refineries are not working?” he queried.
Adebayo urged the government to focus on restoring local refining capacity instead of introducing new taxes.
“What the President should do is summon Heineken Lokpobiri and Bayo Ojulari and instruct them to fix the refineries. Give them six months and ensure that fuel importation drops to zero,” he said.
Earlier, reports confirmed that President Tinubu had approved a 15 per cent ad valorem import duty on petrol and diesel imports into the country.
