The Chairman of the Presidential Tax Reform Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has debunked reports that Nigerians will begin paying a ₦500 fuel surcharge from January 2026.
He described the claim as false and misleading.
In a video released by the State House, Oyedele explained that while the new tax law contains a provision for a fuel surcharge under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Act, the clause has not yet taken effect.
“What we have is a law that was enacted some years ago with a surcharge on fuel under the FEMA Act. That same provision now appears in the new tax law, but it does not take effect as of January 2026,” he clarified.
He stressed that the decision on when the levy would commence rests solely with the Minister of Finance.
“I know some people have been spreading wrong information about this. The law makes it clear that the surcharge will only apply on a future date, to be determined by the Minister of Finance through an official order. And I trust that the Minister will choose the timing responsibly,” Oyedele added.
According to him, the purpose of the surcharge is to raise funds for transport infrastructure projects, which he said would ultimately reduce logistics costs, ease pressure on commuters, and help curb inflation.
The clarification follows widespread public concern that Nigerians would soon face another round of hardship from new fuel-related taxes under President Bola Tinubu’s administration which PurpleWorld had reported earlier.
Supporting Oyedele’s position, legal expert Dr. Misbau Alamu Lateef explained that the 5% levy on petroleum products has existed in Nigeria’s laws since 2007 under the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Amendment Act but was never enforced.
“This is my most important message here: the re-enacted 5% surcharge on fossil fuels is neither active nor scheduled to take effect in January 2026, contrary to what is being circulated. Its commencement is conditional,” he said.
Dr. Lateef noted that under the newly enacted Tax Administration Act 2025, the surcharge can only commence after the Minister of Finance issues a commencement order published in the official gazette.
“To the best of my knowledge, no such order has been issued,” he stated.
He added that while the general start date for the new tax laws is January 2026, the fuel surcharge remains dormant until ministerial approval is formally granted.
“In that sense, just as it was under the FERMA Act of 2007, the 5% surcharge appears more like a future revenue option than an immediate tax measure,” Lateef concluded.