EFCC Uncovers Illegal Oil Refinery Allegedly Operated by Chinese Nationals in Ogun
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in the Ogere area of Ogun State.
The facility was discovered on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence gathering and surveillance of activities involving illegal sludge oil refiners.
The commission disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
According to the EFCC, the refinery was found deserted when operatives stormed the premises.
The discovery followed an earlier clampdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the same area.
However, waste products from the refining process were recovered at the location, along with underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.
Two of the underground tanks inspected contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the operators sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri in Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State, and transported it to the illegal facility in Ogere for processing.
The operators allegedly subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through chambers and filters in a process believed to produce diesel for sale in the Nigerian market.
Security personnel at the facility told EFCC operatives that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities or the name of the company behind the facility.
Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 have since taken over the premises.
Investigations are continuing to establish the identities of the operators, the ownership of the facility, and the full extent of the suspected illegal activities and economic sabotage.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
