The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned that the proposed 15% import duty on petrol and diesel could have increased fuel prices by at least ₦130 per litre.

Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, made the revelation on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television. The Nigerian Government recently suspended the planned import duty on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel).

Reacting to the suspension, Osifo said:

“The suspension of the 15% import duty on PMS and diesel is no coincidence. The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has been working behind the scenes to ensure this outcome.”

He added that local refineries are currently meeting only 40% of Nigeria’s daily fuel demand, and that if the duty had been implemented, local producers would likely have raised their prices further, exacerbating the cost burden on consumers.