"Yes, the law exists, and yes, it provides for a five per cent surcharge on fossil fuels," Oyedele admitted. "But let me be clear: January 2026 is not on the calendar. The law gives the Minister of Finance the power to decide when to begin, and that decision has not been made. Nigerians should not panic based on wrong information." Fuel costs remain the single most sensitive factor in Nigeria's cost of living, affecting transport fares, food prices, and inflation. Any suggestion of another fuel levy immediately triggers public anxiety. Oyedele tried to calm nerves, stressing that the surcharge, whenever activated, will apply only to petrol and diesel, excluding cleaner alternatives such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), kerosene, and other renewable fuels.