‘If You’re Not Careful, He’ll Tax the Air We Breathe’: Adebayo Blasts Tinubu Over Nigeria’s Tax Onslaught
In the sweltering heat of Nigeria’s economic crunch, a fiery warning cut through the airwaves like a Lagos traffic jam horn: President Bola Tinubu might soon slap a levy on oxygen itself. Dumebi Kachikwu Adebayo, a vocal opposition figure and social commentator, unleashed this hyperbolic broadside on Thursday, accusing the administration of morphing into a relentless tax machine that’s squeezing the life out of everyday Nigerians.
Adebayo Tinubu tax criticism is igniting searches, with Nigeria oxygen tax warning trending alongside import duty hardship and Tinubu refinery push, as public fury over fiscal policies boils over. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Adebayo didn’t mince words, framing Tinubu as a “clever tax collector” hell-bent on monetizing every breath, birth, and import amid skyrocketing inflation and naira woes.
The trigger? Tinubu’s push for a 15% import duty on refined petroleum products, unveiled earlier this month as part of broader revenue reforms to fund infrastructure and debt servicing. With Nigeria importing 90% of its fuel despite being Africa’s top oil producer, critics like Adebayo argue this levy will jack up pump prices by at least 20%, hammering households already shelling out triple digits for a liter of petrol. “He wants to collect taxes from you for everything, including the oxygen tax very soon,” Adebayo quipped, painting a dystopian picture of levies on twins or triplets next. “If you have multiples in your house, Tinubu’s going to think of a multiple childbirth tax. He’s just thinking of how to collect more money. It’s wrong.”
Adebayo’s rant taps into a wellspring of frustration. Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda has rolled out VAT hikes, cybersecurity levies, and excise duties on sugary drinks, ballooning federal revenue by 60% year-on-year to over ₦10 trillion in Q3 2025. Yet, with GDP growth sputtering at 2.5% and inflation at 34.7%—the highest in 28 years—many see these as bandaids on a hemorrhaging economy. The World Bank warns that without subsidy reinstatements, 20 million more Nigerians could slip into extreme poverty by 2026.
Background underscores the irony: Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries, meant to end import dependency, have idled for decades due to corruption and mismanagement, costing $2 billion annually in forex. Tinubu’s administration touted the Dangote Refinery’s September 2025 launch as a game-changer, but delays in crude supply have kept imports flowing. Adebayo zeroed in here, urging the president to sideline new taxes and strong-arm energy minister Heineken Lokpobiri and finance chief Bayo Ojulari: “What he needs to do is call them and say, ‘I want those refineries to work. I give you six months, and I want fuel importation reduced to zero.’ Prioritize local refining over this madness.”
Public reactions are a powder keg. On X, #TinubuTaxTerror trended with over 50,000 posts, blending memes of “air tax meters” with sob stories from Abuja traders facing 50% input cost surges. Labor unions like the NLC echoed Adebayo, threatening nationwide strikes if duties aren’t scrapped—echoing October’s “Days of Rage” protests that paralyzed Lagos ports. Even APC insiders whisper unease; a leaked memo from the party’s economic cell admits the policy risks “electoral backlash” ahead of 2027 polls.
Economists weigh in with measured alarm. Dr. Ayo Teriba, CEO of Economic Associates, told Premium Times that while taxes are vital for fiscal health—Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP at 55% demands it—the sequencing is off. “Tinubu’s right to diversify revenue from oil, but without easing monetary policy or boosting exports, it’s like taxing a drowning man for water.” On the flip side, Finance Ministry spokesperson Mohammed Yusuf defended the moves as “tough love,” projecting ₦5 trillion in extra revenue to slash deficits.
For U.S. readers, Nigeria’s tax tango hits home through our interconnected world. Economically, as America’s top African trading partner with $10 billion in annual oil flows, Tinubu’s hikes could ripple to ExxonMobil and Chevron rigs in the Delta, spiking global crude prices by 5-7% if strikes erupt—echoing 2022’s energy crunch. Lifestyle parallels abound: Just as U.S. families gripe over $5 gas, Nigerian moms rationing fuel for school runs mirror Rust Belt commutes, underscoring universal gripes on policy overreach. Politically, it spotlights democracy’s tightrope in emerging markets, where Biden’s $1 billion climate aid to Nigeria dangles on governance reforms—Tinubu’s tax zeal could snag that, fueling GOP calls to pivot funds to allies like Kenya. Technologically, it accelerates blockchain pilots for transparent tax collection, a model for IRS crypto crackdowns. Even in sports, with NBA stars like Hakeem Olajuwon tracing Nigerian roots, fan remittances—$25 billion yearly—face headwinds from naira volatility, dimming diaspora support for Eagles matches.
User intent boils down to survival: Nigerians aren’t just venting; they’re demanding alternatives like refinery revamps over revenue grabs. Adebayo’s camp is mobilizing petitions via Change.org, while Tinubu’s team manages optics with town halls in Kano and Enugu, teasing subsidy tweaks to placate the masses.
In summary, Adebayo’s “air tax” zinger exposes the raw nerve of Nigeria’s tax fatigue under Tinubu, blending satire with stark warnings on economic missteps. Looking ahead, with refinery deadlines looming and protests brewing, expect policy U-turns or unrest by year-end—potentially reshaping Africa’s largest economy and testing Tinubu’s reform mettle for the long haul.
By Sam Michael
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