Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government over the newly introduced 5 per cent tax on refined fossil fuel sales, including petrol and diesel.
Obi, in a post on his official X handle, said the tax would worsen the hardship faced Nigerians instead of providing relief.
He argued that the levy should not have been imposed until citizens began to see tangible improvements in their lives from the promises made by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“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.
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He noted that President Tinubu only recently boasted that Nigeria had met its revenue target for the year, questioning why citizens were still being subjected to more economic pressure.
According to him, even Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which was presented as an alternative, has become unaffordable, rising from about ₦230 to ₦450, while the promised subsidies on CNG have “quietly vanished.”
“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.
Obi stressed that leadership should be about compassion and reducing suffering, not compounding the burdens of the people.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
