By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has denied ownership of a truck reportedly intercepted with 2,145 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in a compartment in Ondo State.
In a statement issued on Monday, the company commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its vigilance and professionalism in intercepting the vehicle.
NNPC Ltd. said preliminary checks showed that the truck, 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 clarification followed media reports that the intercepted truck bore markings associated with the national oil company.
According to NNPC Ltd., the logo displayed on the vehicle was inconsistent with its current official branding, while the vehicle was not listed in the company’s asset database.
The company said it was engaging with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to obtain further information and establish the circumstances surrounding the use of its old branding on the truck.
NNPC Ltd. said it took the unauthorised use of its corporate identity seriously, particularly where such use could be linked to unlawful activities.
The company pledged to cooperate fully with the NDLEA and other relevant security agencies to establish the ownership and operation of the vehicle, as well as how its markings came to be displayed on the truck.
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It also said it was reviewing its brand-protection and asset-monitoring protocols and would take appropriate action, including legal proceedings where necessary, against unauthorised use of its corporate identity.
The company urged members of the public and relevant authorities to verify the ownership or affiliation of vehicles claiming to belong to NNPC Ltd. through official channels.
NNPC Ltd. reiterated its support for the NDLEA’s efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria and pledged to provide all necessary cooperation to ensure that the facts surrounding the incident were conclusively established.
