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NNPC GCEO Mele Kyari: Legal Action Taken Against Misinformation Spreaders
Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has confirmed that legal and security measures have been initiated against individuals spreading misinformation about the company.
Recently, a viral TikTok video featured a man using two small tiger generators—commonly known as ‘I better pass my neighbour’ in Nigeria—to compare the efficiency of premium motor spirit (PMS) purchased from MRS Oil and NNPC. The video claimed that petrol refined by Dangote and sold by MRS Oil lasted longer and was more affordable than that available at NNPC stations.
Speaking at the 60th Nigeria Mining & Geosciences Society (NMGS) Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Kyari dismissed the claim as “an unfortunate drama and bad marketing practice.” He assured that all petrol sold in Nigeria meets regulatory quality standards and emphasized that there is no official confirmation of substandard fuel in circulation.
“The talk around fuel quality is unfortunate and a very bad marketing practice. It’s all drama and entertainment, and as we know, drama has a way of entertaining people,” Kyari stated.
He further explained that fuel quality standards vary between countries, noting that a fuel additive required in Europe to prevent petrol from solidifying in car tanks could turn to water if used in Nigeria due to different environmental conditions.
Kyari also highlighted the role of regulatory agencies such as the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in ensuring that all petroleum products meet required standards.
“These regulatory agencies are doing their job. They have not reported any substandard fuel in the country,” he said.
Regarding misinformation, Kyari revealed that NNPC has taken legal and security steps to prevent false claims from misleading the public and damaging the country’s reputation.
“The implications of such acts go beyond NNPC; they undermine the entire country. While people may have frustrations, spreading falsehoods should never be extended into business,” he warned.
Additionally, Kyari refuted claims that NNPC imported 200 million litres of fuel in February, dismissing the reports as “outright lies.” He clarified that no such importation occurred within the timeframe mentioned in the reports and denounced any link between the alleged importation and the so-called low-quality fuel controversy.
He also pointed out that petroleum importation is a global industry norm, noting that even countries like the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE engage in imports despite having refineries.4oOSearchReasonChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.
