ABUJA — The Federal Government’s announcement of a five percent surcharge on every 10 litres of fuel purchased has sparked widespread anger among Nigerians, with many describing the move as insensitive and economically crippling.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed the plan last week in Abuja, clarifying that the levy is not new but a provision of the 2007 Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Act. He stressed that its inclusion in the 2025 Nigeria Tax Administration Act was only for “harmonisation and transparency.”
“The five percent surcharge has existed since 2007. Its inclusion in the new law is merely for harmonisation and transparency. There is no immediate plan to implement any surcharge, and no commencement order has been issued,” Edun said.
But his assurance has done little to calm public outrage, as many Nigerians fear the policy could worsen the already dire cost of living crisis. The memory of the fuel subsidy removal — which drove pump prices from N167 to as high as N1,000 per litre — still lingers, fueling distrust in government promises.
Across social media and the streets, citizens have voiced frustration.
A Lagos real estate agent, Taiwo Oladosun, argued: “The issue of taxing individuals five percent for purchasing fuel is wrong. Not everybody can afford that. It will be a real struggle.”
Johnson Olagunji, another Lagos resident, raised concerns about fuel station practices. “If this tax must come, the government should ensure transparency. One litre should be one litre. Pumps must be accurate so that the surcharge doesn’t become double punishment.”
Daily commuters were especially alarmed. Businessman Gabriel Adigun warned, “The tax will affect people like us massively. I transport daily, and the cost of transportation will skyrocket.”
An Okada rider, Ozo Darlington, was more scathing: “The normal payment of fuel is enough to drain our pockets. Must they still go ahead to make things difficult for us? With time, we might even be asked to pay tax for the air we breathe.”
Even fuel attendants expressed doubt. Kikelomo Oluwatosin noted that while they must comply with government directives, “implementing it would attract more complaints since people are already struggling with prices.” Her colleague, Kingsley Ibe, added: “If there would be tax for everything, let us at least see where the money is going. Nigerians don’t see positive development from these taxes.”
The backlash is not limited to the streets. Labour unions, manufacturers, and politicians — including Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi — have strongly condemned the plan.
Obi, writing on X, lamented: “Nigerians will pay a five percent tax when buying their everyday fuel or diesel at a time when millions can hardly even afford the cost of transportation. If our revenues are truly excessive as claimed, should they not first be used to fund education, healthcare and pull Nigerians out of poverty? Why tax citizens who cannot even breathe anymore?”
He urged the government to shelve the plan until tangible improvements in citizens’ lives are evident. “Leadership is not about giving a burden; it is about reducing suffering. It is about care and compassion,” he stated.
For now, while the government insists no commencement date has been set, Nigerians remain deeply skeptical — fearing that yet another policy could tip them further into economic despair.
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