The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) yesterday urged the Federal Government to delay the planned introduction of a 15 per cent import tariff on petrol and diesel.

The coalition of civil society organisations warned that the move could trigger a sharp rise in pump prices and worsen the current economic hardship.

The organisation said the policy should not be implemented until domestic refining capacity reaches at least 80 per cent of national demand.

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Executive Director of PAACA, Ezenwa Nwagwu, stated that data showed that domestic refining is not yet sufficient to meet national demand, and forcing importers out of the market would lead to scarcity and higher prices.

According to him, imported petrol currently lands at about N802 per litre, while locally refined products land at N929.72 per litre.

He said adding a 15 per cent tariff would further increase costs, pushing the pump price up by between N140 and N165 per litre across the country.

He said, "Our call today is straightforward. The Federal Government must suspend or reject the proposed tariff, expose and correct its economic, social, and ethical flaws, and educate the public on the dangers of monopolies in vital sectors like fuel, cement, and food. Above all, it must promote transparency and fair competition to protect consumers, workers, and small businesses across the country.

"Adding a 15 percent tariff will only make things worse, increasing pump prices by between N140 and N165 per litre and driving up the cost of transportation, food, and essential goods."