The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered a suspected illegal oil refinery in Ogere, Ogun State, allegedly operated by Chinese nationals.
The discovery was made on October 31 by operatives of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence reports and surveillance targeting illegal sludge oil refining activities.
The EFCC announced the development on Tuesday through a statement issued by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
According to the commission, the facility was deserted when its operatives arrived. The operation came after an earlier crackdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the same area.
Although no operators were found at the site, investigators reportedly discovered refining waste and underground tanks believed to have been used in processing sludge oil.
The EFCC said two of the tanks contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
Investigations reportedly showed that the operators obtained black sludge from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before transporting the materials to Ogere for processing.
The commission explained that the suspected operators used intense heat to extract lighter petroleum components from the sludge oil through chambers and filters, producing what was believed to be diesel for commercial distribution.
Oyewale said workers found at the facility told investigators that the Chinese nationals behind the operation had not disclosed their identities or the name of the company involved.
The commission has since taken over the premises as investigations continue to uncover those behind the refinery, establish its ownership and determine the extent of the alleged economic sabotage.
The EFCC stated that further investigations would focus on identifying the individuals responsible and establishing the full scope of the suspected illegal operation.
