By Jelili Gbadamosi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has discovered underground tanks containing suspected diesel at an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in Ogere, Ogun State.
The discovery was made on Saturday, October 31, 2026, when operatives of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 raided the facility following intelligence on suspected illegal sludge oil refining activities.
The Commission disclosed that two underground tanks inspected at the premises contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
Waste materials believed to have been generated from the refining process were also found at the facility, which was deserted when operatives arrived.
According to the EFCC, preliminary investigations indicated that the operators sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri in Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State before transporting it to Ogere for processing.
The suspected operators allegedly subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through chambers and filters in a process believed to produce diesel for sale in the Nigerian market.
Security personnel at the facility reportedly told investigators that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities or the name of the company behind the operation.
The raid followed an earlier crackdown by the Commission on four illegal lithium processing plants in the same area.
The EFCC said it had taken over the premises as investigations continued to establish the identities of the operators, ownership of the facility and the full extent of the alleged illegal activities.
The Commission added that the investigation would determine the extent of the suspected economic sabotage associated with the operation.
