NNPCL Denies Importing 200 Million Litres Of Petrol

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has firmly denied reports claiming that it recently imported 200 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly referred to as petrol.

It also disclosed that the company hasn’t imported a single volume of the product in 2025.

This revelation was contained in a rejoinder issued by the NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The statement was a response to a report not by The PUNCH that the national oil firm imported 200 million litres of petrol recently.

Soneye attributed the report to either “lazy and unprofessional journalism” or a “deliberate, sponsored attempt by economic saboteurs to mislead the public.”

He said, “The report alleging that NNPC Limited imported over 200 million litres of PMS in February 2025 is a completely false, baseless, and reckless misrepresentation of facts. It is either the result of lazy and unprofessional journalism or a deliberate, sponsored attempt by economic saboteurs to mislead the public.

“Setting the Record Straight: NNPC Limited has not imported a single litre of PMS in 2025.”
The state-owned oil firm said it does not regulate the import operations of private marketers, stressing it is irresponsible to ascribe all petrol import to NNPCL.

The company further clarified that, while it has not engaged in PMS imports this year, there is no legal barrier preventing it from doing so if circumstances necessitate such action.
He said, “We do not control the import activities of private marketers, nor do we issue import licenses. Attributing all PMS imports to NNPC is not just misleading—it is outright deceptive and irresponsible journalism that ignores basic fact-checking principles.

“While NNPC Limited has not imported PMS in 2025, let it be clear that there is no legal restriction preventing us from doing so if necessary.

“As Nigeria’s foremost energy company, we must ensure energy security. Should any supply shortages arise, NNPC Limited retains the full right and responsibility to step in and import to stabilize the market.”

NNPC Limited condemned the spread of “misinformation of this magnitude,” noting that it distorts market realities, misleads key stakeholders, and does a “grave disservice to the public.”

The company vowed to take legal measures against those responsible for fabricating and circulating false reports about its operations.

He added, “NNPC Limited will not tolerate the spread of false and malicious reports aimed at undermining its reputation.

“We will take all necessary legal measures to hold accountable those responsible for fabricating and disseminating falsehoods about our operations.

“We strongly urge media organizations to uphold journalistic integrity by verifying facts before publishing misleading narratives.

“NNPC Limited remains committed to transparency and will not be swayed by attempts to manipulate public perception.”