Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has firmly distanced itself from a 20,000-litre fuel tanker intercepted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Ondo State with 2,145 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in a hidden compartment, valued at approximately N2 billion. The company has also threatened legal action against those behind what it described as the unauthorised use of its corporate identity on the vehicle.
In a statement issued on Monday, September 7, 2026, the company's Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, said preliminary investigations showed that the truck, bearing registration number MKA 960 XC, neither belonged to NNPC nor formed part of its official fleet or that of any of its authorised dealers. Odeh noted that the logo displayed on the truck was inconsistent with NNPC's current official branding and that the vehicle could not be found in the company's asset database.
The NDLEA had earlier disclosed that its operatives intercepted the tanker along the Akoko/Lokoja Expressway in Ondo State on Friday, September 4, 2026, after the driver allegedly refused to stop when flagged down. According to the anti-narcotics agency, the driver subsequently abandoned the vehicle at a church premises in Ugbe Akoko and fled into the bush. A search of the tanker uncovered a false compartment containing 165 bags of cannabis weighing 2,145kg, concealed alongside what the NDLEA described as a legitimate fuel cargo destined for Jos, Plateau State. The agency said the tanker had allegedly evaded arrest in previous operations.
The NNPC said it was engaging with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners to obtain further information and establish the circumstances surrounding the use of its old branding on the vehicle. Odeh stressed that the company takes any unauthorised use of its corporate identity seriously, particularly where such use may be associated with unlawful activity. He said NNPC would continue to cooperate with the NDLEA and other relevant security agencies to establish the ownership and operation of the vehicle. The company also confirmed it was reviewing its brand-protection and asset-monitoring protocols and would take appropriate measures, including legal action where warranted.
Odeh urged members of the public and relevant authorities to verify the ownership or affiliation of vehicles purporting to belong to NNPC through official channels. He reiterated the company's commendation of the NDLEA for its vigilance and sustained efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria. The interception of the cannabis-laden tanker is one of the largest drug seizures recorded in recent months, and the NNPC's swift denial and threat of legal action underscore the growing concern over the use of corporate identities to facilitate criminal activities.
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