Industrialists from Northern Nigeria have expressed support for the Federal Government’s decision to impose a 15 percent import duty on petroleum products. They describe the move as a strategic step toward promoting local refining, boosting domestic production, and reducing dependence on imported fuel.
Chairman of the Sharada–Challawa branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Muhammad Nura Madugu, made the remark during a courtesy visit to the Dangote Group’s regional office in Abuja.
He said members of the Association would continue to align with government policies that stimulate industrial development, promote local content, and strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian manufacturers.
Madugu explained that manufacturers in the region assess government policies objectively — by balancing potential challenges with the broader benefits to the national economy.
He noted that several business opportunities exist in the value chain of crude oil refining, and that members of MAN are eager to tap into the new opportunities created by the Dangote Refinery.
Madugu listed derivatives such as petrol, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, LPG, bitumen, and petrochemical feedstock like ethylene and propylene all of which are key raw materials for industries producing plastics, detergents, and synthetic fibres.
The visit followed the 2025 MAN Product Exhibition in Kano, sponsored by Dangote Industries Limited.
The delegation also presented Awards of Excellence to the Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote, and his Special Adviser on Strategic Relations and Projects, Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman.
Responding, Wali-Abdurrahman expressed appreciation on behalf of the company, noting that Dangote remains committed to supporting government efforts toward job creation, industrial growth, and economic diversification.
According to her, stronger linkages between the refinery and local industries will create value chains that drive national development.
President Bola Tinubu recently approved a 15 percent import tariff on petrol and diesel, describing it as a bridge to Nigeria’s energy independence and a catalyst for local refining.
His Special Adviser on Media, Sunday Dare, said the move will help redirect the nation’s oil wealth toward sustainable prosperity by cutting foreign exchange losses and encouraging domestic investment.
The Dangote Refinery, which began operations in 2024, has an installed capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and is already loading 45 million liters of petrol and 25 million liters of diesel daily quantities that exceed Nigeria’s current demand.
Dangote Group spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, assured that the refinery’s production capacity guarantees local fuel supply and strengthens national energy security.
From the industrialists’ perspective, the new import duty is not a burden — but a bold step toward self-sufficiency, job creation, and a stronger Nigerian economy.
