Student groups urge Tinubu to reinstate fuel import duty, support local refining

Two student bodies — the Coalition of Yoruba Students and Youth Movement (COYSYM) and the National Association of Odùduwà Students (NAOS) — have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revisit the recent suspension of the 15 per cent fuel import duty, saying the policy reversal could affect Nigeria’s energy security and efforts to strengthen […]

Two student bodies — the Coalition of Yoruba Students and Youth Movement (COYSYM) and the National Association of Odùduwà Students (NAOS) — have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revisit the recent suspension of the 15 per cent fuel import duty, saying the policy reversal could affect Nigeria’s energy security and efforts to strengthen local refining.

In a statement on Thursday, the groups urged the Federal Government to sustain the import duty, describing it as a measure designed to support domestic refineries and discourage overreliance on imported petroleum products.

They also encouraged the government to consider a long-term policy shift toward full reliance on locally refined fuel. According to the statement, such a move would help boost employment, conserve foreign exchange, and promote industrial growth.

The organisations outlined several recommendations, including reinstating the 15 per cent fuel import duty, implementing a complete ban on fuel importation, and allocating all crude oil for domestic refining.

They appealed to Nigerians and relevant stakeholders to support policies that strengthen the country’s refining capacity and enhance energy independence.

COYSYM and NAOS pledged their commitment to initiatives aimed at promoting self-sufficiency and sustainable economic development in the country.