Two civic organisations have called on the Federal Government to halt fuel importation and review recent policy decisions affecting the oil and gas sector, warning that continued reliance on imported petroleum products may undermine Nigeria’s refining capacity.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association of Nigeria (BAVCCA) and the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) said the suspension of the 15 per cent import duty on petroleum products could threaten the viability of local refineries, including the Dangote Refinery and modular refinery operators.
The groups argued that the policy shift may discourage investment in domestic refining and put Nigeria at a disadvantage at a time when the country is working towards energy self-sufficiency.
According to the joint statement signed by the two presidents, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere of BAVCCA and Hussaini Abubakar of COCSON, the country no longer requires imported petroleum products, insisting that local production is sufficient to meet national demand.
“As of today, 18th November 2025, the Dangote Refinery is loading and dispatching more than 104 million litres of refined petroleum products daily,”
“Nigeria’s consumption stands at approximately 70 to 75 million litres daily. There is no economic justification for continued importation.”the statement read
The groups dismissed recent comments attributed to some industry stakeholders suggesting that local refining capacity remains inadequate, describing such statements as “misleading and contrary to verifiable production data.”
They maintained that the suspension of the import duty policy could make imported fuel cheaper than locally refined products, a situation they described as “counterproductive and economically harmful.
“This is not policy protection; it is economic sabotage disguised as consumer relief,” they added.
The organisations appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and safeguard ongoing reforms in the petroleum industry by prioritising locally refined products over foreign imports.
They further urged the government to establish a special task force to monitor pricing, importation volumes and compliance with national refining policy.In addition, the groups issued a seven-day notice to individuals and organisations allegedly sponsoring misinformation against local refining efforts.
They said failure to comply would lead to a “naming and shaming exercise” to be carried out during their Energy Truth Summit scheduled for November 22 in Abuja.Petitions have also been submitted to the Presidency, National Assembly, EFCC, ICPC and other relevant agencies, the statement noted.
The Energy Truth Summit, according to organisers, will feature panel discussions, data presentations and a digital monitoring framework aimed at tracking fuel supply, refining output and importation trends in the country.
Government agencies and industry operators are yet to formally respond to the claims, while the groups said they remain open to policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement.
