KEY POINTS
- NDLEA intercepted a tanker in Ondo State carrying 2,145kg of cannabis concealed in a compartment.
- NNPC says the tanker, MKA 960 XC, is not part of its fleet or that of its authorised dealers.
- NNPC is working with NARTO and security agencies to establish how its old branding was used on the vehicle.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC, has denied ownership of a tanker bearing its markings after the vehicle was intercepted in Ondo State with 2,145 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in a compartment.
The tanker was reportedly seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during an operation targeting illicit drug trafficking.
NNPC, through its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, said preliminary checks showed that the vehicle, with registration number MKA 960 XC, was not owned by the company.
The national oil company said the tanker was neither part of its official fleet nor operated by any of its authorised dealers.
According to the company, the logo displayed on the vehicle also does not match NNPC’s current official branding, while the tanker was not listed in its asset database.
Investigation Underway
NNPC said it was working with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to determine how the vehicle came to carry its old corporate markings.
The company said it takes the unauthorised use of its name, logo and other corporate identifiers seriously, particularly when they are linked to criminal activities.
It added that it would cooperate fully with the NDLEA and other security agencies to establish the ownership and operation of the tanker and determine how the NNPC markings were placed on it. The company disclosed that it was reviewing its brand-protection and asset-monitoring procedures following the incident.
NNPC said it would take appropriate measures, including legal action where necessary, against individuals or organisations found to have misused its corporate identity.
It also urged members of the public and relevant authorities to verify the ownership or affiliation of vehicles claiming to belong to NNPC through official channels.
The company commended the NDLEA for intercepting the consignment and reaffirmed its support for efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
