Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the federal government’s new 5% tax on all fossil fuel sales, effective January 2026.
He stated on X Wednesday that the tax will increase the financial burden on Nigerians instead of reducing it.
Nigerians Face New Fuel Charges
The new regulation imposes a 5% surcharge on fossil fuel products produced or supplied in Nigeria. The tax applies at the point of sale.
Obi questioned the government’s timing, noting that many Nigerians already struggle to afford transportation costs.
CNG Subsidies Have Disappeared
Obi also criticized the rising cost of compressed natural gas (CNG), which jumped from about ₦230 to ₦450. Promised subsidies for CNG, he said, “have quietly vanished.”
He asked why the government taxes citizens when it has already met its revenue targets. He stressed that these funds should first improve education, healthcare, and poverty reduction.
Leadership Should Reduce Suffering
Obi emphasized that true leadership focuses on reducing citizens’ hardships, not creating new ones.
“Leadership is not about adding burdens. It is about care, compassion, and improving lives,” he wrote.
He suggested the government delay the 5% fuel tax until Nigerians see tangible benefits from promised reforms.
