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The EFCC has uncovered a suspected illegal oil refinery in Ogere, Ogun State, allegedly linked to Chinese nationals.
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Operatives discovered waste products from refining activities and underground processing tanks during the October 31 raid.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered a suspected illegal oil refinery in Ogere, Ogun State, allegedly linked to Chinese nationals.
The discovery followed intelligence gathering and surveillance by operatives of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2. The operation took place on Saturday, October 31, 2026, amid investigations into illegal sludge oil refining.
The EFCC disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
Underground tanks contain suspected diesel
According to Oyewale, operatives found the facility deserted during the raid. The discovery came after the commission’s earlier crackdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area.
However, investigators recovered waste products from the refining process and discovered underground tanks suspected to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.
Two of the tanks contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
The EFCC said preliminary investigations indicated that the operators sourced black sludge from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State. They allegedly transported the material to Ogere for processing.
Investigation targets operators and ownership
The commission explained that the suspected operators used intense heat to process the sludge oil. The process reportedly involved passing lighter petroleum components through chambers and filters to produce diesel for the Nigerian market.
Oyewale added that personnel at the facility told investigators they did not know the Chinese operators’ identities or the company behind the operation.
Consequently, EFCC operatives have taken over the premises as investigations continue. The commission is working to establish the operators’ identities, determine ownership of the facility and assess the full extent of the suspected illegal activities.
The investigation will also examine possible economic sabotage linked to the alleged unauthorised petroleum refining activities.