EFCC Discovers Chinese-Operated Illegal Oil Refinery in Ogun, Seizes Facility
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 EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, following intelligence reports and surveillance on the activities of suspected illegal sludge oil refiners.
According to the Commission, the facility was deserted when operatives arrived, following an earlier operation that led to the shutdown of four illegal lithium processing plants in the area.
However, investigators discovered waste materials from the refining process, alongside underground tanks suspected 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.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the operators sourced black sludge oil from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before transporting it to the Ogere facility for processing.
The EFCC explained that the operators allegedly subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, passing lighter petroleum components through chambers and filters to produce AGO for sale in the Nigerian market.
Security personnel at the facility reportedly informed investigators that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities or the name of the company responsible for running the refinery.
The Commission said its operatives had taken over the premises as investigations continue to uncover the identities of the operators, ownership of the facility and the full extent of the suspected illegal activities.
