By Benson Daniel
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has disowned a fuel tanker intercepted in Ondo State with 2,145 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in a compartment of the vehicle.
The tanker, which carried markings associated with NNPC, was intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency during an operation against illicit drug trafficking.
NNPC, in a statement issued by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, said preliminary checks showed that the vehicle, 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 company also clarified that the logo displayed on the tanker was inconsistent with its current official branding, while the vehicle was not listed in its asset database.
The clarification followed reports linking the tanker to NNPC because of the markings displayed on the vehicle.
NNPC said it was engaging the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners to obtain further information and establish how its old branding came to be displayed on the tanker.
The company described the unauthorised use of its corporate identity as a serious matter, particularly where its name or branding could be associated with unlawful activities.
NNPC said it remained committed to protecting the integrity of its brand, trademarks and other corporate identifiers and would cooperate fully with the NDLEA and other relevant security agencies investigating the incident.
The company is also reviewing its brand protection and asset monitoring procedures and said it would take appropriate measures, including legal action where necessary, against anyone found to have unlawfully used its corporate identity.
According to details from the NDLEA operation, the tanker was found to contain a concealed compartment where the cannabis was hidden alongside its legitimate fuel cargo.
The discovery represents another major seizure in the agency’s ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks operating across the country.
NNPC commended the NDLEA for its vigilance and professionalism in intercepting the vehicle and reaffirmed its support for efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking.
The national oil company also urged members of the public and relevant authorities to verify the ownership and affiliation of vehicles claiming to operate under its name through appropriate official channels.
The investigation is expected to establish the actual ownership of the tanker, the individuals behind its operation and how NNPC’s old branding came to be used on a vehicle allegedly involved in transporting the illicit consignment.
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