NMDPRA, EFCC Seal Chinese-Linked Illegal Refinery in Ogun

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have sealed an illegal refinery discovered in Ogere-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The facility, allegedly linked to Chinese nationals, occupies more than three hectares of land and contains underground storage tanks with an estimated capacity of over 90,000 litres.

The joint inspection followed intelligence gathered through whistleblowing, which exposed the refinery’s operations and its equipment for processing sludge oil and other petroleum waste products into substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.

Speaking during the inspection, the Ogun State Coordinator of NMDPRA, Mr Atilola Akinyemi, said the facility operated without approval from any regulatory authority.

He described the operation as illegal, noting that the facility had underground heating systems, cooling hydrants, locally fabricated tanks and silos used for separating processed products.

Mr Akinyemi warned that the suspected diesel could pose risks to vehicles and engines if sold without proper testing, adding that laboratory analysis would be required to establish the quality of the recovered products.

He said all products recovered from the facility had been confiscated by the Federal Government.

The EFCC Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Mr Bawa Usman Kaltungo, said the discovery followed whistleblowing and intelligence gathering, adding that the facility appeared to have been operating for years.

Mr Kaltungo also linked the discovery to other alleged illegal activities in the Ogere axis, recalling that 14 Chinese nationals were arrested a week earlier over illegal lithium processing.

He said investigations would extend to the alleged owners of the refinery, who are based in China, adding that efforts would be made to bring them to Nigeria to answer for their activities.

Also speaking, the EFCC Director of Proceeds of Crime Management, Mr Gbolahan Latona, said the operation was necessary to protect legitimate businesses and prevent economic sabotage.

Mr Latona added that suspects would be prosecuted after investigations had been concluded and sufficient evidence gathered, while proceeds of crime would be forfeited to the government if they were convicted.