We did not import a single litre of PMS in February 2025, says NNPC Ltd

Omeiza Bilal

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has said it did not import Premium Motor Spirit commonly referred to as petrol into the country in February.

The NNPCL spokesman’s response is coming after a media report had claimed that the state-owned oil company imported over 200 million litres of PMS into Nigeria in February.

In a statement by Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the company, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, denied the allegation that the company imported over 200 million litres of petrol into the country.

According to Soneye, the report is not only false, it smacks of lazy journalism and an attempt to mislead Nigerians.

“The report alleging that NNPC Limited imported over 200 million litres of PMS in February 2025 is completely false, baseless, and a 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,” he said.

Setting the records straight, the CCCO explained that “NNPC Limited has not imported. 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 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.”

He therefore urged “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.”