Northern manufacturers are celebrating the Federal Government’s decision to impose a 15% import duty on petrol and diesel because they see it as a major opportunity for industrial growth.
Consequently, they believe the policy could reshape Nigeria’s petroleum landscape and boost local production.
Boosting Local Refining
President Bola Tinubu described the duty as a strategic step to encourage local refining and strengthen the country’s energy independence.
Moreover, his media adviser, Sunday Dare, called it “a bridge, not a burden,” emphasising that the measure aims to secure long-term economic stability.
Chairman of MAN’s Sharada-Challawa branch in Kano, Muhammad Nura Madugu, explained that the policy will promote local content and stimulate industrial development.
Read Also: Emem FPSO’s Final Voyage To Raise Nigeria Oil Output
He highlighted the many products Dangote Refinery produces from crude oil, including petrol, diesel, kerosene, LPG, and petrochemicals like ethylene and propylene, which serve as raw materials for plastics, detergents, and synthetic fibres.
Northern Back Fuel Import Duty
Furthermore, MAN Kano-Jigawa chairman, Muhammad Bello Isyaku Umar, praised the duty for reducing import dependence and strengthening the naira.
He added that it will attract investment in refining, boost government revenue, and position Nigerian companies globally, although limited local supply might temporarily raise fuel and transport costs.
Finally, Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman of Dangote Industries noted that collaboration between refineries and manufacturers will create new value chains, stimulate job creation, and satisfy both domestic and export demands.
For Northern manufacturers, the import duty represents not just policy but a doorway to growth, opportunity, and national self-reliance.
