Nigeria has halted plans to impose a 15 percent import duty on refined petroleum products, curbing the potential advantage for billionaire Aliko Dangote’s refinery, Bloomberg reported. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority said on Thursday the levy, originally due to start on November 21, “is no longer in view.”

Dangote’s 650,000 barrel-per-day refinery near Lagos has enabled Nigeria to export refined fuel, producing around 45 million liters of gasoline and 25 million liters of diesel daily. Official data, however, show the country still imports about 64 percent of its fuel.

Industry groups, including subsidiaries of TotalEnergies SE and the retail arm of the state-owned oil company, had warned the duty would push up prices. Authorities estimated it could add 100 naira (7 US cents) per liter of gasoline, intensifying pressure on households already facing 18 percent inflation.

The suspension follows the earlier deferment of a 5 percent fuel surcharge by the finance ministry, signalling caution as the government balances support for local refiners with affordability for consumers.