The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has denied ownership of a truck bearing its markings that was intercepted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with 2,145 kilogrammes of cannabis hidden in a concealed compartment in Ondo State.
In a statement issued Monday by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, NNPCL said preliminary checks confirmed the vehicle, with registration number MKA 960 XC, was neither owned by the company nor part of its official fleet or that of any of its authorised dealers.
The company said it had noted media reports on the seizure and commended the NDLEA for its vigilance in uncovering the illicit consignment.
NNPCL said the logo on the truck did not match its current official branding, and the vehicle was not listed in its asset database. It added that it was engaging the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to gather more information and determine how the old branding ended up on the vehicle.
“NNPC Ltd. takes any unauthorised use of its corporate identity seriously, particularly where such use may be associated with unlawful activity,” the statement read, adding that the company remained committed to protecting its brand and ensuring its name and trademarks were not misused.
The oil company said it would fully cooperate with the NDLEA and other security agencies to establish the ownership and operation of the vehicle, and how NNPC markings came to appear on it.
NNPCL said it was also reviewing its brand-protection and asset-monitoring protocols and would take appropriate action, including legal steps, against anyone found to have misused its corporate identity.
It urged the public and relevant authorities to verify the ownership of any vehicle claiming affiliation with the company through official channels, and reaffirmed its support for the NDLEA’s fight against illicit drug trafficking.
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