No ₦500 Fuel Surcharge in January 2026 — Taiwo Oyedele

The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has dismissed reports suggesting that Nigerians will begin paying a ₦500 surcharge on fuel purchases starting January 2026.

Oyedele, in a statement on Friday, explained that while the fossil fuel surcharge is provided for under the new Tax Administration Act 2025, the provision remains dormant and cannot take effect without a formal commencement order by the Minister of Finance.

He stressed that the widespread claims of an automatic surcharge taking effect in January 2026 were false, misleading, and capable of creating unnecessary panic among citizens.

According to him, the surcharge, pegged at 5% on fossil fuel products, is designed to fund transport infrastructure and reduce inflationary pressures by addressing high transportation costs. However, he noted that no date has been fixed for its implementation.

“The law makes provision for a surcharge on fossil fuel, but it is not effective until the Minister of Finance issues a commencement order by gazette. This has not been done, and therefore no such levy is applicable in January 2026,” Oyedele clarified.

He added that when activated, revenues from the surcharge would be channeled towards improving roads, logistics, and mass transit systems, with the overall objective of easing commuting and reducing the burden on households.

The clarification follows viral reports and social media posts suggesting that Nigerians would automatically begin paying ₦500 on every ₦10,000 worth of fuel purchases from January 2026.

Oyedele urged the public to disregard such misinformation and rely only on official statements from the government regarding tax reforms and implementation timelines.