The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has clarified that a fuel tanker intercepted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, with 2,145kg of cannabis concealed in a secret compartment in Ondo State does not belong to the company.
The NDLEA had intercepted the tanker, which was reportedly branded with NNPCL’s logo, and discovered the drugs hidden in a compartment.
In a statement on Monday, NNPCL spokesperson, Andy Odeh, said preliminary checks showed the vehicle with registration number MKA 960 XC is neither owned by NNPC Ltd. nor part of its official fleet or authorised dealers.
“The logo displayed on the vehicle is not consistent with NNPC Ltd.’s current official branding, and the vehicle does not appear in the Company’s asset database,” Odeh stated.
He added that NNPCL is engaging with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, to establish the circumstances surrounding the use of the company’s old branding on the vehicle.
Odeh said the company takes any unauthorised use of its corporate identity seriously and is reviewing its brand-protection protocols.
He noted that legal action would be taken where warranted against misuse of the company’s name and trademarks.
