Nigeria’s state-owned oil company has denied ownership of a fuel tanker seized in Ondo State after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency found 2,145kg of cannabis hidden in a compartment. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, or NNPCL, said the vehicle’s apparent use of its branding does not connect it to the company.
Quick facts
- The vehicle was intercepted by the NDLEA in Ondo State.
- Authorities found 2,145kg of cannabis in a concealed compartment.
- The tanker carried registration number MKA 960 XC.
- NNPCL said it is consulting NARTO over the vehicle’s use of its former branding.
NNPCL spokesperson Andy Odeh issued the clarification in a statement on Monday. The company is working with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners to gather more details and determine how its outdated identity appeared on the tanker.
The NDLEA had reported the seizure of a fuel tanker bearing what appeared to be the NNPCL logo, with drugs concealed inside a specially constructed hidden section.
Initial checks by NNPCL found that the vehicle, registration number MKA 960 XC, is not owned by the company. It is also absent from NNPCL’s official fleet and is not linked to any authorised dealer.
NNPCL said the emblem displayed on the tanker differs from its current corporate design and that the vehicle cannot be found in its asset records. The company added that its discussions with NARTO are intended to clarify the circumstances behind the use of the old branding.
The oil company said it treats unauthorised use of its corporate identity seriously, especially when the branding may be connected to criminal conduct. It said protecting the reputation of its brand remains a priority and that its name, trademarks and other identifiers must not be used improperly.
NNPCL is also reassessing its systems for brand protection and monitoring company assets. It said it would take suitable measures, including legal proceedings where justified, against unauthorised use of its corporate identity.
