Energy
Fed Govt shelves proposed 15% levy on fuel, diesel imports
• Suspension a setback to Nigeria’s economic reform, says OGUNCCIMA
By Grace Edet
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has stated that the proposed implementation of the 15 per cent of valorem import duty on imported Premium Motor Spirit and Diesel is no longer in view.
According to a statement posted on its X handle earlier today, the Director, Public Affairs Department, NMDPRA, George Ene-Ita, while assuring of adequate supply of products by the Authority, said: “It should also be noted that the implementation of the 15 per cent ad-valorem import duty on imported Premium Motor Spirit and Diesel is no longer in view.”
The statement said the Authority will continue to closely monitor the supply situation and take appropriate regulatory measures to prevent distruption of supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country, especially during this peak demand period.
But reacting to the decision, the Ogun State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA) faulted the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed implementation of the 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel imports. It insisted that the rescinding of the policy could slow down the nation’s progress toward energy independence and weaken investor confidence in the refining sector.
OGUNCCIMA’s President, Niyi Oshiyemi, described the suspension as a setback to Nigeria’s economic reform drive and a missed opportunity to protect local refiners, particularly the Dangote Refinery and other modular refining initiatives.
“The suspension of the 15 per cent fuel import tariff is disappointing. The policy was a step in the right direction to promote local refining, reduce dependence on imports, conserve foreign exchange and create a fair competitive environment for domestic producers. Its reversal sends a wrong signal to investors who have shown confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector,” Oshiyemi said, noting that implementing the tariff would have helped to stabilise the naira by curbing excessive demand for foreign exchange used in fuel importation.
He added that local refineries need firm policy backing to thrive, warning that continuous reliance on imported fuel would make the economy vulnerable to external shocks.
“The Dangote Refinery alone has the capacity to meet Nigeria’s domestic fuel needs and even export to other African countries. Supporting such investments with protective policies like the import tariff is not just economic common sense; it is a matter of national interest,” he stated.
The OGUNCCIMA President urged the Federal Government to reconsider its decision and reintroduce the policy after consultations with key stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.
He emphasised that sustainable industrial growth requires consistency in policy direction, noting that frequent policy reversals discourage private sector participation and hinder long-term development.
While acknowledging the government’s concern about potential short-term price increases, Oshiyemi maintained that the long-term gains including job creation, forex savings and increased energy security far outweigh any temporary inconvenience.
He reaffirmed OGUNCCIMA’s commitment to advocating policies that protect local industries and promote economic diversification.
“We believe in reforms that empower Nigerian investors and strengthen our productive base. The 15 per cent tariff was one of such reforms, and we urge the government to revisit it in the national interest,” he said.
Recall that in October, President Bola Tinubu approved the introduction of a 15 per cent ad valorem import duty on petrol and diesel imported into the country.
According to the government, the measure was intended to “strengthen local refining capacity and ensure a stable, affordable supply of petroleum products across Nigeria.”
Authorities had announced that implementation of the tariff would commence within a month of its approval.
However, the decision drew widespread criticism from stakeholders, energy experts and civil society groups, who warned that the levy could trigger a surge in fuel prices and further strain the nation’s fragile economy.
….Culled from Reuters
Oil prices could extend gains today as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran entered a third week, putting oil infrastructure at risk and keeping the Strait of Hormuz shut in the world’s largest supply disruption. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub, drawing a defiant response of further retaliation from Tehran.
Brent and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures have already spiked sharply and rattled global financial markets. Both contracts have surged more than 40 per cent so far this month to their highest levels since 2022 after the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran prompted Tehran to halt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz – a key chokepoint for a fifth of global oil supply.
Trump has urged China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others to deploy warships to secure the strategic gateway.
The United States struck military targets on Kharg Island on Saturday, which was swiftly followed by Iranian drone attacks on a key oil terminal in the United Arab Emirates.
“This marks an escalation in the conflict,” JP Morgan analysts led by Natasha Kaneva said.
“Until now, the region’s oil infrastructure has largely been spared.”
Besides UAE’s Fujairah, Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura export terminal and Abqaiq oil processing facilities have been listed as critical and highly vulnerable energy nodes in the Gulf, the analysts said.
However, oil loading operations at Fujairah have resumed, a Fujairah-based industry source told Reuters yesterday.
Fujairah, outside the Strait of Hormuz, is the outlet for about one million barrels per day of the UAE’s flagship Murban crude oil – a volume equal to about one per cent of world demand.
Global oil supply is expected to fall by eight million bpd in March due to disruptions to shipping while Middle Eastern producers have cut output by at least 10 million bpd, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Last week, the IEA agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of oil from strategic stockpiles held by member nations to combat price spikes. Japan plans to start releasing its oil today.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has rebuffed efforts by Middle Eastern allies to start diplomatic negotiations, according to three sources familiar with the efforts, while Iran has rejected the possibility of any ceasefire until U.S. and Israeli strikes end, dimming hopes of a quick end to the conflict.
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has completed the turnaround maintenance on the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, leading to resumption of production at Nigeria’s premier deepwater field on March 6, 2026. The project was delivered 11 days ahead of schedule and without any safety incident, reinforcing SNEPCo’s longstanding commitment to operational excellence and asset integrity.
SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams, noted that completing the turnaround safely and ahead of schedule is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of her Nigerian workforce and the helpful support of our partners.
“The achievement not only secures the long‑term integrity of the Bonga FPSO but also positions us strongly for the successful delivery of the Bonga North project, which will leverage the improved reliability of the FPSO,” Adams said.
The exercise which began on February 1, 2026, highlights SNEPCo’s leading role in advancing deep‑water expertise in Nigeria. Of the 55 companies involved in the execution, 43 were wholly Nigerian. Additionally, eight of the 12 international service providers maintain operational bases in Nigeria, contributing to knowledge transfer and increased local investments.
More than 1,000 personnel worked offshore during the turnaround, with over 95 per cent being Nigerians involved in maintenance, engineering, operations, inspection and construction. Thousands more supported activities from onshore locations, reflecting the depth of Nigerian capability in offshore oil and gas operations.
Adams added: “We acknowledge the support of several stakeholders towards the successful execution of the exercise, including the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and our partners.”
The Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Wole Ogunsanya, has blamed petroleum industry regulators for persistent delays in oil and gas contracting processes, despite a presidential directive requiring tenders to be concluded within six months. Ogunsanya disclosed this during his presentation at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026 in Abuja, yesterday. The Presidential directive is aimed at accelerating project execution across the energy sector.
Recall that President Tinubu in March 2024, issued Executive Order (OE) 42 mandating reduction of petroleum sector contracting costs and timelines, being part of a wider set of oil and gas reforms signed by the administration.
“We are not concluding contract processes in six months as directed and reports sent to the Presidency often fail to reflect the realities faced by industry players,” the PETAN boss said.
Ogunsanya disclosed that his Association is currently monitoring ongoing tenders, emphasising that several projects scheduled to commence in 2026 and 2027 remain stalled due to prolonged contracting cycles.
He noted that execution gaps persist despite a significant increase in contracting activities involving expressions of interest, tenders, pre-qualifications, and technical and commercial evaluations since the fourth quarter of 2024. He also identified prolonged internal approvals, delayed Final Investment Decisions (FIDs), slow commercial negotiations, extended regulatory and compliance procedures, and funding and financial close challenges as major bottlenecks undermining project delivery.
According to him, a study conducted by PETAN revealed that the current rate of contract awards falls significantly short of the Presidential benchmark of completing tenders within six months, with most contracts structured for five years and a possible two-year renewal.
Ogunsanya therefore called on the Presidency to give closer monitoring of the contracting process to ensure that awards and project execution align with presidential timelines, warning that continued delays could weaken investor confidence and slow sector growth.
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