By Dipo Olowookere
One of the leading indigenous energy companies in Nigeria, Oando Plc, has denied being part of those who imported adulterated premium motor spirit (PMS), better known as petrol, into the country.
Following the return of queues to fuel stations in some key cities of the nation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited claimed that four firms brought into the country methanol-blended petrol.
It was alleged that the bad fuel in circulation was the reason for the scarcity of the product in the country as oil marketers had to stop selling the commodity because of the damage it could do vehicles and their image.
Addressing newsmen on Wednesday over the matter, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, alleged that Oando, MRS, Duke Oil and Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium were behind the problem.
Mr Kyari emphasized that defaulting suppliers have been put on notice for remedial actions and NNPC was working with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDRA) to take necessary actions in line with subsisting regulations.
But Oando, in a statement signed by the Company Secretary, Ayotola Jagun, said the energy never imported contaminated petrol into Nigeria as alleged and was never involved in such.
“Following media reports listing Oando as one of four importers that supplied methanol-blended Premium Motor Spirits (PMS) into the country, we hereby state that Oando did not import and supply PMS that was adulterated or substandard.
“The PMS supplied by Oando met Nigeria’s import specification.
“We are committed to working assiduously with the NNPC and industry to identify the root cause(s) of the subsequent contamination of the PMS supplied.
“We want to assure the public that Oando as a responsible corporate citizen would not partake in the importation, distribution, or marketing of substandard petroleum products,” the statement said.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka