The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an alleged illegal oil refinery in the Ogere area of Ogun State, reportedly operated by Chinese nationals.
According to the anti-graft agency, the facility was discovered on October 31, 2026, during an operation by officers of its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2. The raid followed intelligence gathering and surveillance targeting suspected illegal sludge oil refining activities in the area.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the refinery was deserted when operatives arrived at the location. The development came shortly after the commission's crackdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the same area.
Despite the absence of operators, investigators reportedly found evidence of refining activities, including waste products and several underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.
Preliminary findings indicated that two of the underground tanks contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
The EFCC said its investigation revealed that sludge oil, also referred to as black sludge, was allegedly transported from Warri in Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State to the Ogere facility for processing.
According to the commission, the refining process involved subjecting the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum products to pass through chambers and filtration systems to produce diesel for distribution in the local market.
The agency further disclosed that workers at the facility claimed the Chinese operators never revealed their identities or the name of the company behind the operation.
Following the discovery, the EFCC has taken control of the premises and commenced further investigations to establish the identities of those involved, determine ownership of the facility, and uncover the full extent of the alleged illegal activities.
The commission described the operation as part of its ongoing efforts to combat economic sabotage and illegal exploitation of Nigeria's natural resources.
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