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 2,145kg of cannabis concealed in a compartment does not belong to the company, even though the vehicle bore markings associated with its brand.
In a statement on Monday by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, NNPC Ltd. said preliminary checks showed that the vehicle, with registration number MKA 960 XC, is neither owned by the company nor part of its official fleet or that of any of its authorised dealers.
The company noted that the logo displayed on the truck does not match its current official branding, and that the vehicle does not appear in its asset database.
NNPC Ltd. said it is engaging the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to gather further information and determine how its old branding came to be displayed on the vehicle.
While commending the NDLEA for its vigilance and professionalism in intercepting the truck, the company said it takes any unauthorised use of its corporate identity seriously, particularly where such use may be linked to unlawful activity, and remains committed to protecting the integrity of its brand.
NNPC Ltd. said it would continue to cooperate fully with the NDLEA and other security agencies and support a full and thorough investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident, including the ownership and operation of the vehicle and how the company’s markings came to appear on it.
The company added that it is reviewing its brand-protection and asset-monitoring protocols and would take appropriate steps, including legal action where warranted, against anyone 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 purporting to belong to the company through official channels.
NNPC Ltd. reiterated its commendation of the NDLEA for its sustained efforts in combating illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria, stating that it remains fully supportive of the ongoing investigation and will provide all necessary cooperation to ensure the facts are conclusively established.
