The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the recovery of ₦5 billion and $10 million from contractors and government officials implicated in fraudulent activities linked to the turnaround maintenance of Nigeria’s refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri.
Investigations, personally overseen by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, revealed large-scale corruption, including over-invoicing, inflated contracts, and questionable payments, which contributed to the persistent failure of the refineries despite decades of heavy public funding.
Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries have remained largely inactive, forcing the country to rely on petroleum imports despite repeated rehabilitation efforts. Records show that $1.55 billion was allocated to Port Harcourt refinery, $740 million to Kaduna, and $657 million to Warri, yet the facilities have failed to operate optimally.
According to EFCC insiders, former and serving officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), along with management teams of the refineries, were interrogated multiple times in connection with the fraudulent dealings.
“So far, ₦5 billion and $10 million have been recovered from contractors and officials involved in inflated payments,” a senior investigator disclosed.
“We are also pursuing the recovery of an additional ₦10 billion and $13 million linked to the same scheme.”
The commission is also probing fresh allegations of $40 million worth of contract inflation involving NNPCL officials and contractors tasked with procuring equipment for the rehabilitation projects.
Sources confirmed that the EFCC has concluded investigations on several officials and is preparing to file charges, which may include both retired and current executives.
The agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, was unavailable for comment at press time, but another senior official confirmed the progress of the investigation and ongoing recoveries.
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EFCC Recovers Billions in Refinery Turnaround Maintenance Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered over ₦5 billion and $10 million from contractors and officials implicated in fraudulent turnaround maintenance projects at Nigeria’s refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri.
According to investigations personally overseen by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, additional recoveries of ₦10 billion and $13 million are underway.
Despite decades of massive budget allocations, Nigeria’s refineries have remained largely non-functional. The EFCC is probing over $2.9 billion allocated across the three facilities:
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$1.55 billion (Port Harcourt)
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$740 million (Kaduna)
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$656 million (Warri)
Sources revealed that fraudulent practices such as over-invoicing, contract inflation, and questionable payments were responsible for the refineries’ persistent failure. Several former management teams of the refineries and officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) have been interrogated, with charges being prepared against some of them.
The commission is also investigating fresh allegations of $40 million in contract inflation involving NNPCL officials and contractors.
A senior EFCC official confirmed the recoveries, while additional funds are expected to be reclaimed in the coming months.
