EFCC Uncovers Chinese-Operated Illegal Refinery In Ogun state.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an illegal refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

A statement by the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, says the discovery followed intelligence gathering and surveillance by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 over the activities of suspected illegal sludge oil refiners.

The statement explains that EFCC operatives stormed the facility during an operation but found the premises deserted, following the Commission’s earlier crackdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area.

However, waste products suspected to be remnants of the refining process were discovered at the site.

The operatives also uncovered underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil, raising concerns over the scale of the illegal refining activities.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the operators allegedly sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri in Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State before transporting it to the illegal facility in Ogere for processing.

Further investigations indicated that the operators subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through a series of chambers and filters in a process believed to produce Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, for sale in the Nigerian market.

The EFCC’s discovery highlights growing concerns over illegal petroleum refining activities and their potential implications for the nation’s economy, environmental safety and regulatory framework.

The Commission is expected to continue its investigations to identify those behind the operation and establish the full extent of the illegal activities.