• Company backs NDLEA probe, says vehicle used old, unauthorised branding
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has denied ownership of a truck intercepted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ondo State with 2,145kg of cannabis allegedly concealed in a compartment.
The company commended the NDLEA for its vigilance and professionalism in intercepting the vehicle, which reportedly carried markings associated with NNPC.
In a statement issued on Monday by NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the company said preliminary checks showed that the truck, with registration number MKA 960 XC, was neither owned by NNPC Ltd. nor part of its official fleet or that of any authorised dealer.
NNPC also said the logo displayed on the truck did not correspond with its current official corporate branding, while the vehicle was not listed in the company’s asset database.
The company said it was engaging the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to obtain further information and determine how its old branding came to be displayed on the vehicle.
“NNPC Ltd. takes any unauthorised use of its corporate identity seriously, particularly where such use may be associated with unlawful activity,” the statement said.
The company stressed that it remained committed to protecting the integrity of its brand and preventing the misuse of its name, trademarks and other corporate identifiers.
NNPC said it would cooperate fully with the NDLEA and other relevant security agencies in investigating the incident.
It said the investigation should establish the ownership and operation of the truck, as well as the circumstances surrounding the display of NNPC markings on the vehicle.
The company added that it was reviewing its brand-protection and asset-monitoring protocols and would take appropriate action, including legal measures, where necessary, against unauthorised use of its corporate identity.
NNPC also urged members of the public and relevant authorities to verify the ownership or affiliation of vehicles claiming to belong to the company through official channels.
The oil company again commended the NDLEA for its sustained efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria, assuring that it would provide all necessary assistance to ensure that the facts surrounding the incident are conclusively established.
