Nigeria has delayed the implementation of its new tax law, which includes a 5% fuel surcharge on petrol, diesel and other fossil fuels, until January 1, 2026.
Finance Minister Wale Edun said on Tuesday, September 9, that the measure requires a formal proclamation and an order signed by his office before being published in the National Gazette.
He stressed that the Government is mindful of current economic hardships and would not immediately add to the burden on citizens. The surcharge, part of the Nigeria Tax Act signed into law in June, is intended to harmonise tax regulations and increase government revenue as part of wider fiscal reforms. Edun clarified that the levy is not a new tax but originates from a 2007 law, incorporated in the new act for “harmonisation and transparency.” Since assuming office in 2023, President Bola Tinubu has implemented sweeping reforms, including scrapping fuel and electricity subsidies and devaluing the naira twice, policies that have sparked public concern over the rising cost of living.