NNPC says syndicate threatened by its campaign against corruption 'planting fabricated reports'

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says it has uncovered an emerging coordinated sabotage campaign by a syndicate to discredit the leadership of the organisation.

In a statement on Friday by NNPC management, the company said the syndicate, which involves individuals in the firm and outside, is threatened by the company’s corruption-free drive and is ‘planting fabricated reports’.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has uncovered an emerging coordinated sabotage campaign being waged by a syndicate of known and faceless actors, both outside and within various levels of the organisation,” the statement reads.

“This group is actively spreading lies and misinformation simply to discredit NNPC Ltd.’s leadership and derail the organisation’s ongoing transformation into a corruption-free, performance-driven energy company, in line with the mandate of His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Their tactics include planting scandalous and fabricated reports, curated to distract leadership, mislead the public, and undermine the commitment of our dedicated workforce and reform-minded Nigerians.”

NNPC said it is a calculated effort by those who feel threatened by reform, transparency, accountability, and change.

The company added that this is clear evidence of the lengths to which they will go to obstruct the transformation of Nigeria’s foremost energy institution.

“We expect a surge of defamatory content in the days and weeks ahead. NNPC Ltd. remains undeterred. The transformation is underway, and no amount of sabotage will stop it,” the company said.

“We urge our dedicated staff, stakeholders, and all patriotic Nigerians to stay focused, ignore the noise and not be discouraged.”

NNPC said it remains on mission.

The development comes a day after the senate committee on public accounts gave NNPC a 10-day ultimatum to address queries concerning discrepancies in its audited financial statements.

On June 19, the committee launched an investigation into the national oil firm over discrepancies totalling N210 trillion in the company’s audited financial statements.