NMDPRA Suspends 15% Import Duty on Petrol, Diesel to Avert Price Hike
By Paul Ebi
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has suspended the implementation of the planned 15 percent ad-valorem import duty on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), popularly known as petrol and diesel.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Director, Public Affairs Department, George Ene-Ita, the Authority said the decision was taken to stabilize the domestic supply chain and prevent unnecessary price increases in the downstream petroleum sector.
Ene-Ita assured Nigerians of the adequacy and steady availability of petroleum products across the country, sourced from both local refineries and importers, to maintain national sufficiency levels.
> “There is robust domestic supply of petroleum products (AGO, PMS, LPG, etc.), sourced from both local refineries and importation, to ensure timely replenishment of stocks at storage depots and retail stations during this period,” the statement read.
The Authority further cautioned petroleum marketers against hoarding, panic buying, or arbitrary price adjustments, emphasizing that the current supply situation does not warrant any form of scarcity.
> “It should also be noted that the implementation of the 15% ad-valorem import duty on imported Premium Motor Spirit and Diesel is no longer in view,” the NMDPRA clarified.
The Federal Government had earlier approved the 15 percent import duty as part of a new tariff framework designed to encourage local refining, reduce import dependence, and align import costs with domestic production realities.
The approval was conveyed in a letter dated October 21, 2025, to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the NMDPRA, with the implementation initially scheduled to commence on November 21, 2025, following a 30-day transition period.
With the latest decision, the NMDPRA reiterated its commitment to maintaining price stability and ensuring uninterrupted supply of petroleum products nationwide, while stakeholders continue to work toward achieving a sustainable and competitive energy sector.
