Civic Organisation Accuses NNPCL Of Lying To Nigerians About Petrol Imports In 2025
The NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Soneye, had denied reports that the corporation imported more than 200million litres of petrol in February 2025.
The Good Governance Watch has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, of deceiving Nigerians by falsely claiming it had not imported a single litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in 2025.
The NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Soneye, had denied reports that the corporation imported more than 200million litres of petrol in February 2025.
However, multiple Motor Tanker Vessels Reports confirmed the imports, contradicting NNPCL’s claims.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, the National Coordinator of Good Governance Watch, Dr Sola Johnson, criticised NNPCL for what he described as a pattern of deception.
“It is irresponsible of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to claim that it has not imported any petrol in 2025 and even went on to malign journalists who exposed its shady dealings by accusing them of engaging in lazy reporting and unprofessional journalism,” Dr Johnson stated.
He challenged the corporation to refute the Motor Tanker Vessels Report of 10 February 2025, which showed that NNPCL had imported petrol through several shipments.
According to the report, 37,000 metric tonnes arrived at the Lagos ASPM terminal on the ship Kriti Bay, while another 37,000 metric tonnes were delivered the same day on the ship Kouris.
Additional shipments included 28,000 metric tonnes brought in by Hapia Andre at the PWA/BOP/NOJ Lagos terminal and 20,000 metric tonnes delivered at the Calabar Mainland terminal by Mycroft.
Dr Johnson further pointed out that while Soneye was denying the imports, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) confirmed that half of Nigeria’s daily 50 million litre petrol consumption was sourced through imports.
He cited the Petroleum Industry Act, which mandates importation to meet shortfalls in domestic production, as proof that NNPCL’s denial was “disingenuous.”
“What makes NNPCL’s latest lies disheartening is because it has become a pattern of the corporation to constantly mislead Nigerians and the government even when the facts are glaring.
“The lies in this instance are about covering up the fact that the refineries the corporation claimed have started operation are not producing petrol or other refined products,” he said.
The Good Governance Watch demanded that NNPCL and its spokesperson stop misleading the public, apologise to Nigerians, and take action against those responsible for what it described as “a campaign of lies and scams.”
It also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, warning that NNPCL’s actions could tarnish his administration’s reputation unless decisive measures were taken to address corruption within the corporation.
