State oil firm NNPC Limited has clarified that a fuel tanker intercepted by drug enforcement officers with 2,145kg of cannabis in Ondo State does not belong to the company or its authorized dealers.
In a statement issued on Monday, NNPC commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for the interception but noted that the truck—bearing registration number MKA 960 XC—is not in its asset database.
The company stated that the logo displayed on the vehicle is an outdated corporate identity, adding that it is engaging the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to determine how the old branding came to be used.
Brand protection and investigation
NNPC emphasized that it takes any unauthorized use of its corporate identity seriously, particularly in connection with illegal activities.
Key details from the statement include:
- Full cooperation: NNPC is cooperating with the NDLEA and other security agencies to support a thorough investigation into the vehicle’s true ownership and operation.
- Legal action: The company is reviewing its brand-protection and asset-monitoring protocols and will take appropriate legal steps against unauthorized use of its trademarks.
- Public verification: Members of the public and law enforcement agencies have been advised to verify any vehicle claiming NNPC affiliation through official corporate channels.
The clarification follows a nationwide NDLEA crackdown on drug trafficking, during which the tanker was pursued along the Akoko/Lokoja Expressway before being abandoned by its driver in Ugbe Akoko.
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