EFCC Uncovers Chinese-Owned Illegal Oil Refinery in Ogun

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

The facility was discovered on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by EFCC operatives following investigations into illegal oil refining activities in the area.

The commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.

Oyewale said the operatives discovered the facility after gathering intelligence and monitoring the activities of people involved in illegal oil refining.

He said the refinery was empty when the operatives arrived. The discovery came after the EFCC had earlier raided four illegal lithium processing plants in the same area.

However, the operatives found waste products from oil refining and underground tanks believed to have been used to heat and process sludge oil.

According to the statement, two of the underground tanks contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil, commonly known as diesel.

Oyewale said preliminary investigations showed that the operators brought sludge oil, also called black sludge, from Warri in Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State to the Ogere facility for processing.

He explained that the operators heated the sludge oil at high temperatures to separate lighter petroleum products.

The materials were then passed through chambers and filters in a process believed to produce diesel for sale in Nigeria.

The EFCC spokesperson added that workers at the facility could not provide the identities of the Chinese operators or the name of the company behind the business.

“Personnel at the facility told EFCC operatives that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities nor the name of the company behind the facility,” he said.

He said the commission had taken over the premises while investigations continued.

The EFCC said it was working to identify the operators, establish who owned the facility and determine the full extent of the suspected illegal activities.

It also described the operation as part of its efforts to tackle economic and financial crimes in the country.