The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government’s introduction of a 5% tax on refined fossil fuel sales, including petrol and diesel, describing it as an additional burden on already struggling Nigerians.
Obi made the remarks in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday night, lamenting that the policy was ill-timed and insensitive to the current economic hardship facing millions across the country.
“Nigerians will pay a 5% tax when buying their everyday fuel or diesel at a time when millions can hardly even afford the cost of transportation,” Obi wrote.
The former governor of Anambra State questioned the rationale behind imposing more taxes, especially after President Bola Tinubu claimed that Nigeria had already met its revenue target for the year.
“Mr President just yesterday boasted that Nigeria has met its revenue target for the year. Yet instead of easing hardship, the government imposes more burden on Nigerians,” he said.
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Obi further pointed out that the widely promoted Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) alternative has become unaffordable, rising from about ₦230 to ₦450, with previously promised subsidies on the product disappearing without explanation.
“Even the so-called alternative, CNG, has become unaffordable, rising from about ₦230 to ₦450, while the promised subsidies on the CNG have quietly vanished,” he said.
Challenging the government’s priorities, Obi said excess revenue should first be channelled into critical sectors like education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation, rather than taxing citizens already under pressure.
“If our revenues are truly ‘excessive’ as claimed, should they not first be used to fund education, healthcare, and pulling Nigerians out of poverty? Why tax citizens who cannot even breathe anymore?” he asked.
He concluded by stating that leadership should be measured by how much suffering is alleviated, not increased.
“Leadership is not about giving a burden but reducing suffering, and about care and compassion,” Obi added.
The Federal Government is yet to formally respond to Obi’s statement as public debate intensifies around the implications of the new fuel tax.
