The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has strongly refuted reports that it recently imported 200 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, categorically dismissed the claim, stating that the company had not imported any petrol in 2025.
Soneye condemned the report, calling it either “lazy and unprofessional journalism” or a “deliberate, sponsored attempt by economic saboteurs to mislead the public.”
“The claim that NNPCL imported over 200 million litres of PMS in February 2025 is completely false, baseless, and a reckless misrepresentation of facts. NNPCL has not imported a single litre of PMS this year,” he stated.
He further clarified that NNPCL does not oversee or regulate fuel imports by private marketers and, therefore, should not be credited with all petrol importation activities in the country. While reaffirming that NNPCL has not engaged in petrol imports this year, Soneye emphasized that the company is not legally restricted from doing so if necessary.
“We do not control the import activities of private marketers, nor do we issue import licenses.
Attributing all PMS imports to NNPCL is not just misleading—it is outright deceptive and irresponsible journalism that ignores basic fact-checking principles,” he said.
“However, let it be clear that if the need arises, NNPCL has every right to import petrol to ensure market stability and national energy security.”
NNPCL also condemned the spread of such “misinformation,” warning that it distorts market realities, misleads key stakeholders, and does a “grave disservice to the public.”
Soneye stated that the company would take legal action against individuals and organizations responsible for fabricating and spreading false reports about its operations.
“NNPCL will not tolerate false and malicious reports aimed at undermining its reputation.
We will take all necessary legal measures to hold accountable those responsible for spreading such falsehoods,” he warned.
He urged media organizations to prioritize journalistic integrity and verify facts before publishing misleading narratives.
“NNPCL remains committed to transparency and will not be swayed by attempts to manipulate public perception,” he concluded.
