The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has distanced itself from a 20,000-litre fuel tanker intercepted in Ondo State with 2,145 kilogrammes of cannabis, stating that the vehicle neither belongs to the national oil company nor operates within its authorised network.
The clarification follows a weekend interception by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) along the Akoko–Lokoja Expressway, where operatives uncovered 165 bags of cannabis concealed within a false compartment of the fuel-laden truck.
In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, NNPC Ltd.’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, commended the NDLEA for its vigilance but insisted that media reports linking the vehicle to the company were inaccurate.
According to the state-owned energy firm, an internal audit confirmed that the truck, registered as MKA 960 XC, is not part of its official corporate fleet, does not appear in its asset register, and has no affiliation with any authorised NNPC dealers.
Odeh explained that while the truck bore markings resembling those of the company, the emblems were defunct and inconsistent with the company’s current corporate branding.
To unravel how the markings were applied to the vehicle, NNPC Ltd. confirmed it has opened discussions with transport authorities.
“The logo displayed on the vehicle is not consistent with NNPC Ltd.’s current official branding, and the vehicle does not appear in the Company’s asset database. NNPC Ltd. is also engaging with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to obtain further information and establish the circumstances surrounding the use of the Company’s old branding on the vehicle,” the statement read.
Reaffirming a zero-tolerance policy regarding the unlawful use of its trademarks, the company warned that it will explore legal action against individuals or syndicates attempting to exploit its corporate identity as a cover for criminal operations.
NNPC Ltd. pledged full cooperation with the NDLEA and other security services to identify the actual owners and handlers of the seized tanker, while advising members of the public and law enforcement agencies to independently verify any vehicle claiming corporate affiliation through official company channels.