By Joy Akinsanya
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and operatives of the EFCC, on Wednesday raided an unlawful refinery in Ogere-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun.
The joint inspection adopted intelligence that uncovered what investigators described as “a well-fenced, crude but technically sophisticated refinery occupying over three hectares of land.”
NAN stories that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had uncovered the situation in a report on Tuesday, prompting the NMDPRA to launch an investigation and surveillance operation on it.
Speaking with newsmen on the web site, State Coordinator of NMDPRA, Dr Atilola Akinyemi, stated the power, which occupied greater than three hectares of land, operated with out a allow from any regulatory authority.
He stated the set up had an underground storage capability of greater than 90,000 litres, alongside heating methods, cooling amenities, domestically fabricated tanks and separation silos.
The inspection was performed by officers of NMDPRA, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and different related authorities companies.
Akinyemi described the set up as crude and unlawful, saying its operators had established a petroleum processing system outdoors the nation’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 stated.
He stated preliminary findings indicated that the power had designated sections for receiving feedstock, storage, heating, processing and cooling.
Akinyemi, nonetheless, cautioned in opposition to classifying the recovered merchandise as diesel or Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) with out laboratory evaluation.
According to him, the bodily look of the merchandise doesn’t set up their precise 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 stated.
He warned that releasing unverified petroleum merchandise into the market might harm autos and vehicle engines.
The coordinator stated the recovered petroleum merchandise and supplies had been confiscated and positioned beneath the custody of the Federal Government.
He counseled the EFCC and different companies for his or her collaboration, saying intelligence sharing was important to tackling unlawful actions within the petroleum sector.
In his submission, the EFCC Zonal Director (Lagos Directorate 2), Bawa Kaltungo, instructed 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 monitoring the corporate’s possession construction, with proof pointing to final helpful house owners working 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 stated.
According to Kaltungo, the Ogere axis has grow to be a hub of unlawful actions by international nationals, recalling that 14 Chinese nationals have been arrested every week earlier over unlawful 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 stated.
He vowed that the final word house owners, who’re based mostly in China, can be introduced again to Nigeria to reply for his or her actions, including that the fee is on the verge of uncovering one other unlawful web site.
Also, Mr Gbolahan Latona, Director, EFCC Department of Proceeds of Crime Management, emphasised the necessity for Nigerians to be patriotic and work collectively for the event of the nation.
“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 stated.
He said that upon concluding the investigation, the suspects can be arraigned in court docket and the proceeds of the crime can be deployed to significant 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)
Edited by Yetunde Fatungase
