NNPC denies importing 200m litres of petrol in February

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has denied importing 200 million litres or any volume of premium motor spirit (PMS) in 2025.

On February 13, a publication claimed NNPC imported 159,000 metric tons of PMS, also known as petrol, between February 1, and February 12.

In a statement on Tuesday, Olufemi Soneye, chief corporate communications officer, described the story as “false and reckless”.

“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,” Soneye said.

“It is either the result of lazy and unprofessional journalism or a deliberate, sponsored attempt by economic saboteurs to mislead the public.”

Soneye, however, said although NNPC is yet to import petrol this year, nothing bans it from doing so.

“We do not control the import activities of private marketers, nor do we issue import licenses,” he said.

“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 have a duty to 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.

“Misinformation of this magnitude does a grave disservice to the public, distorts market realities, and misleads key stakeholders. 

“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.”

Soneye said it remains committed to transparency and will not be swayed by attempts to manipulate public perception.