NNPC Says Truck Carrying 2,145kg Cannabis is Not it's Vehicle

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has distanced itself from a truck intercepted with 2,145 kilogrammes of cannabis in Ondo State.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency had reportedly intercepted the truck after discovering the cannabis concealed in a compartment of the vehicle.

In a statement on Monday, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, said preliminary checks showed that the truck, with registration number MKA 960 XC, was neither owned by NNPC Limited nor part of its official fleet or that of any of its authorised dealers.

The company said it was aware that the vehicle bore markings associated with NNPC, but noted that the logo displayed was not consistent with its current official branding.

According to NNPC, the vehicle also does not appear in its asset database.

The company said it was engaging the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners to obtain further information and determine how its old branding came to be used on the vehicle.

NNPC said it takes the unauthorised use of its corporate identity seriously, particularly where such use may be linked to criminal activity.

It also pledged to cooperate fully with the NDLEA and other security agencies in investigating the ownership and operation of the truck, as well as the circumstances surrounding the use of NNPC markings.

The company added that it was reviewing its brand-protection and asset-monitoring protocols and would take appropriate legal action where necessary.

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 company commended the NDLEA for its efforts in combating illicit drug trafficking and said it would provide all necessary support to ensure the facts surrounding the incident are established.