The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and operatives of the EFCC, on Wednesday raided an illegal refinery in Ogere-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun.
The joint inspection followed intelligence that exposed what investigators described as “a well-fenced, crude but technically sophisticated refinery occupying over three hectares of land.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had uncovered the location in a report on Tuesday, prompting the NMDPRA to launch an investigation and surveillance operation on it.
Speaking with newsmen at the site, State Coordinator of NMDPRA, Dr. Atilola Akinyemi, said the facility, which occupied more than three hectares of land, operated without a permit from any regulatory authority.
He said the installation had an underground storage capacity of more than 90,000 litres, alongside heating systems, cooling facilities, locally fabricated tanks and separation silos.
The inspection was conducted by officials of NMDPRA, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant government agencies.
Akinyemi described the installation as crude and illegal, saying its operators had established a petroleum processing system outside the country’s regulatory framework.
“This facility you see here is very crude and completely illegal. This is not a refinery by any standard.
“They appear to be technically skilled people who have deliberately designed this facility to circumvent government regulations.
“It does not have a permit from any regulatory authority, and its operations are unknown to the relevant authorities,” he said.
He said preliminary findings indicated that the facility had designated sections for receiving feedstock, storage, heating, processing and cooling.
Akinyemi, however, cautioned against classifying the recovered products as diesel or Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) without laboratory analysis.
According to him, the physical appearance of the products does not establish their actual chemical composition or suitability for automotive use.
“When we examine their final product, it may look like diesel to the average person. However, we cannot classify it as diesel or Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) until laboratory tests have been conducted,” he said.
He warned that releasing unverified petroleum products into the market could damage vehicles and automobile engines.
The coordinator said the recovered petroleum products and materials had been confiscated and placed under the custody of the Federal Government.
He commended the EFCC and other agencies for their collaboration, saying intelligence sharing was essential to tackling illegal activities in the petroleum sector.
In his submission, the EFCC Zonal Director (Lagos Directorate 2), Bawa Kaltungo, told journalists that the sting operation was executed following directives from the EFCC Executive Chairman after verifying the whistleblower’s report.
Kaltungo revealed that investigators are tracking the company’s ownership structure, with evidence pointing to ultimate beneficial owners operating from China.
“What we have seen here is an illegal refinery with a complete setup, featuring all the processes through which sludge passes before being converted into what is commonly referred to as diesel.
“Judging by the nature of this facility, it has been operating for years,” Kalango said.
According to Kaltungo, the Ogere axis has become a hub of illegal activities by foreign nationals, recalling that 14 Chinese nationals were arrested a week earlier over illegal lithium processing.
“Some of them had passports, while others did not. Even among those who had passports, we discovered that some of their visas had expired about three months earlier. Yet, there were still individuals operating there without passports,” he said.
He vowed that the ultimate owners, who are based in China, will be brought back to Nigeria to answer for their activities, adding that the commission is on the verge of uncovering another illegal site.
Also speaking, Mr. Gbolahan Latona, Director, EFCC Department of Proceeds of Crime Management, emphasised the need for Nigerians to be patriotic and work collectively for the development of the country.
“Imagine allowing saboteurs like these to operate freely and undermine the efforts of legitimate investors like the Dangote Refinery. Ultimately, it is Nigerians who will suffer.
“If we genuinely want this country to become better for all of us, we must collectively work together to put an end to these kinds of criminal activities,” Latona said.
He stated that upon concluding the investigation, the suspects will be arraigned in court and the proceeds of the crime will be deployed to meaningful use.
“Once investigation has been concluded and sufficient evidence gathered, they will have their day in court. That is essentially the process.
“They will face prosecution, and if convicted, the proceeds of their crimes will be forfeited to the government and subsequently put to appropriate use,” he added. (NAN)
