By Editor By Ladan Nasidi, Kano
Industrialists from Northern Nigeria have expressed strong support for the Federal Government’s decision to impose a 15 per cent import duty on petroleum products, describing the move as a strategic policy that will stimulate local refining, boost manufacturing competitiveness, and strengthen the nation’s economy.
The manufacturers, under the aegis of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), stated that the measure will enhance value addition within the oil and gas sector while encouraging more investment in local production.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Dangote Group’s regional office in Abuja, Chairman of MAN’s Sharada-Challawa Branch, Muhammad Nura Madugu, said the association will continue to align with government policies that promote industrial growth, local content, and global competitiveness for Nigerian products.
“Our members assess every government policy carefully, weighing both the benefits and challenges to our industries and to the wider economy,” Madugu said. “We see great opportunities emerging from the crude oil derivatives being produced by the Dangote Refinery.”
Madugu highlighted several refinery by-products such as petrol, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, LPG, bitumen, lubricants, and petrochemical feedstocks like ethylene and propylene, which he said would serve as vital raw materials for industries producing plastics, detergents, synthetic fibres, and other goods.
The visit followed the 2025 MAN Product Exhibition in Kano, sponsored by Dangote Industries Limited . During the visit, MAN presented Awards of Excellence to Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, and Mrs. Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, Special Adviser on Strategic Relations and Projects.
Responding, Mrs. Wali-Abdurrahman reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting government policies that drive industrialization and job creation.
“We believe strong linkages between the refinery and local manufacturers will create new value chains, stimulate ancillary industries, and enhance our collective capacity to meet both domestic and export demands,” she said.
The Dangote Refinery, which began operations in 2024, has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and is already supplying about 45 million liters of petrol and 25 million liters of diesel daily, surpassing Nigeria’s local demand.
Dangote Group spokesperson Anthony Chiejina said the refinery’s output guarantees local fuel supply, strengthens energy security, and significantly reduces dependence on imports.
In a related development, the Chairman of MAN’s Kano-Jigawa Branch, Muhammad Bello Isyaku Umar, also commended the 15% import duty, describing it as a policy that will stabilize the naira, reduce foreign exchange demand, and encourage private investment in domestic refining.
“This initiative will not only reduce importation but also increase government revenue. Although it may cause temporary fuel price adjustments, the long-term benefits outweigh the challenges,” Umar noted.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier approved the 15% import duty on petrol and diesel, which his media aide, Sunday Dare, described as “a bridge, not a burden” a bold step toward reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape and achieving long-term economic stability.
“For years, Nigeria has depended heavily on imported fuel despite being a leading crude oil producer. This policy will reverse that trend by encouraging local refining and ensuring our oil wealth translates into national prosperity,” Dare stated.
With the Dangote Refinery’s planned expansion to 1.4 million barrels per day, industry stakeholders believe the new policy will further position Nigeria as a refining hub in Africa and create over 65,000 new jobs across the value chain.