The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has clarified that a truck intercepted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ondo State with 2,145 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in a compartment is not owned by the company and is not part of its authorised fleet.
The clarification followed media reports concerning the vehicle, which bears markings associated with NNPC Ltd.
A statement by Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Limited, Andy Odeh, disclosed that preliminary checks showed that the truck, with registration number MKA 960 XC, is neither owned by the company nor included in the official fleet of NNPC Ltd. or any of its authorised dealers.
The company also said the logo displayed on the vehicle does not correspond with its current official branding and that the vehicle does not appear in its asset database.
NNPC Ltd. said it is engaging with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to obtain further information and establish how the company’s old branding came to be displayed on the vehicle.
The company commended the NDLEA for what it described as vigilance and professionalism in intercepting the truck and said it would cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
“NNPC Ltd. takes any unauthorised use of its corporate identity seriously, particularly where such use may be associated with unlawful activity,” the company stated.
It added that it supports a full investigation into the incident, including determining the ownership and operation of the vehicle and the circumstances surrounding the display of NNPC Ltd. markings.
According to the company, it is also reviewing its brand-protection and asset-monitoring protocols and will take appropriate measures, including legal action where warranted, against unauthorised use of its corporate identity.
NNPC Ltd. further encouraged members of the public and relevant authorities to verify the ownership or affiliation of vehicles purporting to belong to the company through appropriate official channels.
The company reiterated its support for the NDLEA’s efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking and pledged to provide all necessary cooperation to help establish the facts surrounding the incident.
