Business

Myths and facts of the five per cent fuel surcharge

Published

3 months ago

September 9, 2025

By Aderonke Atoyebi

It’s me again, here to clear the air. I am confident in this government and its vision, so I want to set the record straight. If you have been scrolling through social media or catching the news, you have probably seen people talking about a “five per cent fuel surcharge”. Some say it will hit our pumps in January 2026, while others claim it is a new tax meant to make life harder for Nigerians.

A fuel surcharge is a small extra charge on fuel, meant for a specific purpose. In this case, it is for our roads and transport infrastructure. The goal is to lower the cost of moving goods and people, ease logistics, and ultimately help bring down inflation. The five per cent surcharge has been around since 2007 under the FERMA Act, and its job is to make sure there’s money set aside for fixing and maintaining them. It is not a tax the government can use however it likes, and it is definitely not about immediately taking more from us at petrol stations.

The 2025 Tax Act didn’t create a new surcharge. What it does is modernise it, put it in a clear framework, and make it more transparent. This means the law is easier to understand, and everyone knows exactly how the money will be used.

Here’s the thing: a lot of Nigerians don’t understand: the five per cent fuel surcharge won’t automatically kick in January 2026. Before anything happens, the Minister of Finance has to give the official go-ahead, and it has to be published in the official gazette. This means Nigerians have time to plan, and families using household fuels like kerosene, cooking gas (LPG), CNG, or renewable energy won’t feel any impact.

So, why should we see this as a good step? Over the past two years, this administration has already delivered noticeable improvements on several roads across the country. Highways like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Abuja-Kaduna Road, and sections of the Enugu-Onitsha route have seen repairs and upgrades, making travel faster and more comfortable. With the five per cent fuel surcharge, the government can continue this progress and expand it to more states.

Some people ask why the government can’t simply use the money saved from fuel subsidies instead. While subsidy savings do help, those funds are already stretched across education, healthcare, security, and other urgent national priorities. Having this surcharge means transport infrastructure all over Nigeria has its own dedicated money, so it doesn’t have to compete with other pressing needs and can be spent consistently where it matters most.

No need for all the back-and-forth. This five per cent fuel surcharge is simply a way to make our roads and transport systems better and safer for everyone.

With this fund, more roads across the country can be fixed and maintained properly, so that drivers, traders, and commuters don’t have to struggle with bad roads. Cars will last longer, goods will move faster, and our daily journeys to work, school, or market will be much easier. It’s a small step today that promises a big difference for Nigerians tomorrow.

Aderonke Atoyebi, the technical assistant on broadcast media to the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, writes via contact@arabinrinaderonke.com

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Business

Combating Corruption Is a Collective Responsibility At All Levels of Governance- RMAFC Boss

Published

7 days ago

December 9, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi
Chairman Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu OFR has reiterated that combating corruption is not the mandate of a single institution; rather, it is a collective responsibility requiring vigilance, integrity, and transparency at all levels of governance

Dr. Shehu made this remarks during a one day sensitisation program, organised by the Anti Corruption and Transparency Unit of the Commission in conjunction with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Tuesday, 9th December, 2025, at the RMAFC headquarters in Abuja.

Represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the Commission Nwaze Joseph Okechukwu, the Chairman emphasised that RMAFC occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s fiscal architecture.

He also said, “As the institution constitutionally empowered to monitor accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account, we understand the critical role of ethical conduct in safeguarding public resources.”

According to him, corruption in any form undermines development, distorts fiscal planing, erodes public trust, and ultimately denies citizens the social and economic benefits that government revenues are meant to provide.

Dr. Bello who expressed delight over the convergence of key stakeholders who share a common commitment to strengthen transparency, accountability, and integrity within the national governance landscape further said, “The programme offers an opportunity to strengthen the ethical awareness, understand emerging risks, and recommit ourselves to doing what is right, just, fair and equitable at all times.”

In his opening remarks, the Chairman Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), Mr. Idris Musa Sariki, who welcomed all stakeholders to the programme, expressed appreciation to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission(ICPC) for their continuous guidance and collaboration with ACTU in strengthening transparency and accountability in MDA’s.

He noted that the establishment of ACTU in RMAFC reflects the commitment of the Commission to uphold its core values of integrity, transparency, accountability, professionalism, and patriotism. He added that the ACTU unit of the Commission plays a vital role in promoting ethical conduct, monitoring compliance, and building a work environment where corruption has no space to thrive.

Speaking further, the ACTU Chairman explained that the success of the anti-corruption efforts depends not only on policies and systems but on the daily actions and decisions of every staff and management of the commission. “Today’s programme is timely, essential and provides an opportunity for staff to better understand corruption risks, preventive strategies, and their individual responsibilities as public officers.” He said.

In his contribution, the Director Servicom in the Commission, Mr. Olaye Osayemen encouraged participants to take the one day sensitisation programme seriously in ensuring adherence to the civil service financial regulations.

Highlight of the programme was the presentation of papers by ICPC officials on the “Definition of corruption” by Ozor Ijeomah and “Ethical decision making in doing government business” by Dr Anike Adesina.

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