The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving a 15% import duty on refined petroleum products, describing it as an anti-people policy that would worsen the suffering of Nigerians.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Adebayo accused the President of turning governance into a tax collection enterprise, saying the administration was pushing Nigerians to the brink.
“President Tinubu is a clever tax collector. He wants to collect taxes from you for everything, including the oxygen tax very soon. If you’re not careful, yes, the air we breathe. Just give him time; he’s going to get there,” Adebayo said sarcastically.
The SDP flag bearer argued that the policy contradicts Tinubu’s earlier democratic ideals, recalling his association with the Social Democratic Party during the Hope ’93 movement led by late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.
“Tinubu that used to be in the SDP following Abiola everywhere has now switched to the side of the money people. They no longer see you as a citizen — they see you as a customer. If you have twins, he may even think of taxing you for that,” he stated.
Adebayo warned that the new import tariff would directly increase petrol prices, noting that consumers would ultimately bear the cost.
“If you put 15% tariff on imported petrol, who pays for it? The person buying fuel at the filling station,” he said.
He also faulted Tinubu’s dual role as President and Minister of Petroleum, saying the continued non-functionality of Nigeria’s refineries was a failure of leadership.
“The President is the Minister of Petroleum, yet the refineries are not working. Because of that inefficiency, Nigerians are being punished. Am I the reason why refineries are not working?” Adebayo queried.
The SDP chieftain urged the government to prioritise refinery repair and reduce dependence on imports, rather than imposing more taxes.
“What he needs to do is call Heineken Lokpobiri and Bayo Ojulari and say, ‘I want those refineries to work in six months.’ We must reduce fuel importation to zero,” he said.
President Tinubu’s approval of the 15% ad-valorem import duty was earlier confirmed in a letter dated October 21, 2025, sent to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to align import costs with domestic realities.
