The Chairman of the Presidential Tax Reform Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has said that the proposed N500 tax on every N10,000 worth of fuel will not begin in January 2026 as many people believe.

He explained that the actual start date will be announced later by the Minister of Finance.

Many Nigerians have already condemned the planned levy and demanded that it be stopped after reports claimed that the implementation date was set for January 2026.

In a video released on Friday morning, Oyedele explained that the surcharge has its roots in a law under the FERMA Act.

He said the new tax law does not make it effective from January 2026, but rather leaves the responsibility to the Minister of Finance to decide the right time to begin. According to him, the Minister will choose a date that is considered appropriate.

He further explained that the revenue from the fuel tax will be dedicated to developing transport infrastructure.

The aim is to make the cost of moving goods cheaper, improve logistics, and in the long run, help reduce inflation for Nigerians.