NMDPRA says illegal refinery in Ogun had underground storage for over 90,000 litres

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have sealed a facility operating without permits in the Ogere Remo district. Officials discovered the site spans more than three hectares and contains an underground storage system with a capacity surpassing 90,000 litres.

During a joint inspection on Wednesday, the NMDPRA state coordinator, Dr. Atilola Akinyemi, noted that the site utilized locally fabricated tanks, separation silos, and heating systems. He stated, “This facility does not have a permit from any regulatory authority, and its operations are unknown to the relevant authorities.”

The EFCC reported that the operation allegedly involved Chinese nationals who processed sludge oil sourced from Delta and Rivers states. According to the commission, the discovery followed intelligence provided by a whistleblower, which led to surveillance and a subsequent sting operation.

Akinyemi warned that the setup was designed to mimic a standard refinery while bypassing safety regulations. He remarked, “Everything about the setup suggests that they attempted to replicate the operations of a standard refinery but failed to meet the required standards.”

The NMDPRA cautioned the public against labeling the recovered substances as diesel, noting that laboratory analysis is required to determine their composition. The authority warned that distributing such products could cause significant damage to vehicle engines.

All materials and products found at the site have been confiscated by the Federal Government. The NMDPRA pledged to continue collaborating with security agencies to identify and dismantle similar unauthorized operations across the state.