The discovery was made on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence reports and surveillance activities targeting suspected illegal sludge oil processing operations.
According to the commission, the facility was deserted when its operatives stormed the premises. The raid followed an earlier operation in which the EFCC uncovered four illegal lithium processing plants in the same area.
Although no suspects were found at the location, operatives discovered waste products believed to have resulted from the refining process, alongside underground tanks suspected to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.
The commission disclosed that two of the underground tanks inspected contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the operators allegedly sourced sludge oil, also referred to as black sludge, from Warri in Delta State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State before transporting the material to the Ogere facility for processing.
Further findings reportedly showed that the operators subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through a series of chambers and filtration systems in a process believed to produce AGO for commercial distribution in the Nigerian market.
The EFCC said security personnel at the facility informed investigators that the Chinese nationals allegedly operating the refinery had never disclosed their identities or the name of the company behind the operation.
Consequently, operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 have taken over the premises as investigations continue to establish the identities of those involved, determine ownership of the facility and uncover the full extent of the suspected illegal activities.
The commission is also investigating the possible economic implications of the operation, which it considers a matter requiring scrutiny over suspected illegal petroleum processing and related economic offences.
The latest discovery forms part of the EFCC’s wider efforts to tackle economic and financial crimes, including activities involving the illegal processing and sale of petroleum products.
The commission said investigations were ongoing to identify the operators and establish the circumstances surrounding the establishment and activities of the suspected illegal refinery.
