The Nigeria Coalition Group (NCG) and the Yoruba Council Worldwide (YCW) have strongly rejected the Federal Government’s suspension of the 15 percent import duty tariff on petroleum products, describing the decision as misguided, deceptive, and harmful to Nigeria’s economic stability.
The suspension announcement, signed by the Principal Private Secretary to the President, Prince Damilotun Aderemi, and supported by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), claimed the measure was necessary to curb alleged panic buying of petrol and diesel across the country.
However, the groups refuted this claim, insisting that no queues, shortages, or panic buying have been observed anywhere in Nigeria. They described the explanation as a fabricated narrative engineered by oil cabals.
In a joint statement signed by Aare Oladotun Hassan Esq, President and Convener, the groups noted that the suspension is a strategy allegedly crafted by powerful oil interests, including DAPPMAN, IPMAN, PENGASSAN and NUPENG, to maintain dominance over fuel importation and frustrate the growth of local refining initiatives.
They argued that Nigerians overwhelmingly support the immediate implementation of the 15 percent import duty tariff as a critical step toward strengthening local refining, reducing fuel prices, and ending decades of economic dependence on imported petroleum products.
The groups disclosed that on 12 November 2025, they submitted a joint letter of demands to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker Mudashiru Obasa during a solidarity rally, urging them to urgently transmit the demands to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for action.
They emphasized that the Dangote Refinery remains central to resolving Nigeria’s recurring fuel crises. The groups accused NMDPRA and NNPCL of undermining the refinery through inadequate crude oil supply. They insisted that even a 50 percent crude allocation to the refinery is sufficient to meet Nigeria’s entire daily fuel demand, ultimately leading to lower fuel prices and the elimination of scarcity.
They commended Aliko Dangote as a patriotic Nigerian whose refinery boasts one of the largest petroleum product tank farms in Africa, with the capacity to sustain the nation for up to a year in emergency situations.
The coalition further called for an immediate reinstatement of the 15 percent import duty tariff, a total ban on the importation of PMS and AGO, and the allocation of 100 percent domestic crude oil output to the Dangote Refinery. They urged President Tinubu to intervene decisively to stop what they described as sabotage by powerful oil unions.
They accused the President of PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo, of leading a campaign to demarket and destabilize the Dangote Refinery, alleging that his actions, along with those of other saboteurs, have resulted in 22 documented incidents causing an estimated loss of over thirty billion naira.
The groups confirmed that they have petitioned the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS and other security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into all individuals allegedly involved in acts of sabotage, shutdown attempts and the circulation of false allegations against the refinery.
Participants at the solidarity rally were dressed in white shirts and jeans, symbolizing unity, purity of intent and a collective stand for national interest. The event drew traditional rulers, academics, artisans, professional bodies, youth groups and community leaders, all expressing unwavering support for the Dangote Refinery project.
The gathering concluded with a renewed vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, while calling for swift and decisive actions to protect Nigeria’s energy independence and ensure that the interests of ordinary Nigerians are not sacrificed to the whims of vested oil cabals.
