Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has announced that legal and security actions have been taken against individuals spreading false information about the company.
Recently, a TikTok video surfaced, featuring a man comparing the running time of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, purchased from MRS Oil and NNPC. The video claimed that the Dangote-refined petrol sold by MRS Oil lasts longer and is more affordable than the petrol sold at NNPC stations.
At the 60th Nigeria Mining & Geosciences Society (NMGS) Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Kyari condemned the video as “unfortunate drama and bad marketing practice.” He affirmed that the petrol sold by NNPC meets all required quality standards set by regulatory authorities, and no official reports have indicated the presence of substandard fuel.
Kyari criticized the claims about fuel quality, calling them mere “drama and entertainment,” noting that such marketing tactics were misleading. He explained that fuel quality standards differ from country to country and emphasized that what is required in one nation may not apply in another. For instance, in Europe, oxygenates are added to petrol to prevent it from solidifying in car tanks. However, introducing such additives in Nigeria would have a different effect due to environmental factors.
He further assured that Nigerian regulatory bodies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) are responsible for ensuring all imported products meet the necessary standards. He also affirmed that these agencies have not reported any issues with substandard fuel in the country.
Kyari confirmed that NNPC has taken the appropriate legal and security steps to address the individuals behind these videos, stressing that such misinformation has broader implications for the country. “The consequences of such actions are not just on NNPC, but on the entire nation,” he stated, while urging that frustrations should not translate into spreading falsehoods in business.
He also denied claims that NNPC Ltd. had imported 200 million litres of fuel in February, calling the reports “lies” and confirming that no fuel imports took place during the timeframe mentioned. He dismissed allegations linking fictitious imports to claims of low-quality fuel, describing them as baseless.
Kyari explained that fuel importation is a standard practice in the industry, with even major countries like the United States importing petroleum products. He also pointed out that Nigeria has successfully supplied petroleum products to countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, despite those nations having their own refineries.
