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 discovery was made on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence and surveillance on the activities of suspected illegal sludge oil refiners.
Facility Found Deserted
According to the EFCC, the facility was deserted when operatives stormed the premises. The raid followed an earlier operation in which the commission shut down four illegal lithium processing plants in the area.
However, operatives discovered waste products from the refining process, as well as underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.
Two of the tanks inspected contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
Sludge Oil Transported From Delta, Rivers
Preliminary investigations indicated that the operators sourced sludge oil, also called black sludge, from Warri in Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State before transporting it to the facility in Ogere for processing.
The EFCC said 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 AGO for sale in the Nigerian market.
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Security personnel at the facility reportedly told investigators that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities or the name of the company behind the operation.
EFCC Takes Over Facility
The commission said its operatives had taken over the premises as investigations continued to establish the identities of the operators, the ownership of the facility and the full extent of the suspected illegal activities.
The investigation is also expected to determine the extent of the alleged economic sabotage.
