The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has distanced itself from a fuel tanker intercepted in Ondo State with 2,145 kilograms of cannabis concealed in a compartment.
The tanker, which carried markings associated with the national oil company, was seized by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during an operation in the state.
NNPC, however, said preliminary checks showed that the vehicle was neither owned by the company nor part of its official fleet or the fleet of any of its authorized dealers.
In a statement by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the company said the tanker, with registration number MKA 960 XC, was not listed in its asset database.
The company also said the logo displayed on the vehicle did not correspond with its current official branding, raising concerns over the alleged unauthorized use of its corporate identity.
NNPC said it was engaging the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to establish how its old branding came to be displayed on the vehicle and determine the circumstances surrounding its operation.
The company described unauthorized use of its identity, particularly in connection with alleged unlawful activities, as a serious matter.
NNPC said it would cooperate fully with the NDLEA and other relevant security agencies to establish the ownership and operation of the tanker and determine how its markings were used.
The development followed an NDLEA interception of a 20,000-litre tanker along the Akoko-Lokoja Expressway in Ondo State.
According to the anti-narcotics agency, its operatives pursued the tanker after the driver allegedly failed to stop when flagged down. The driver subsequently abandoned the vehicle at a church premises in Ugbe Akoko and reportedly fled into the bush.
A search of the tanker allegedly uncovered 165 bags of cannabis weighing a combined 2,145kg in a concealed compartment. The drugs were reportedly hidden alongside fuel cargo said to be destined for Jos, Plateau State.
The NDLEA’s discovery has prompted questions over the ownership and use of the tanker, particularly because of the NNPC-related markings displayed on the vehicle.
NNPC said it had commenced steps to clarify the matter and would take appropriate action once the facts surrounding the incident were established.
The company also disclosed that it was reviewing its brand-protection and asset-monitoring procedures to prevent the misuse of its corporate identity.
It said legal action could be taken where necessary against individuals or entities found to have unlawfully used its name, trademarks or other corporate identifiers.
NNPC urged members of the public and relevant authorities to verify the ownership or affiliation of vehicles claiming to belong to the company through appropriate official channels.
The national oil company also commended the NDLEA for its vigilance and efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking.
It reiterated that it would provide the necessary assistance to investigators to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the seizure were fully established.
The incident has consequently become both a drug-trafficking investigation and a corporate identity matter, with authorities expected to determine who owned and operated the tanker and why it carried old NNPC branding.
NNPC maintained that the vehicle was not part of its official fleet or that of its authorized dealers, stressing that the company would continue to protect its corporate identity from unauthorized use.
