EFCC investigations have uncovered large-scale fraud in Nigeria’s refinery rehabilitation efforts.
Dockaysworld reports that so far, the commission has recovered more than ₦5 billion and $10 million from contractors and government officials linked to inflated contracts and over-invoicing in the turnaround maintenance of the Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri refineries.
Despite decades of rehabilitation budgets running into billions of dollars, the facilities remain largely inactive, forcing the country to depend on imported petroleum products. Records show that $1.5 billion was allocated to Port Harcourt, $740 million to Kaduna, and $656 million to Warri, yet none has returned to full operation.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who is said to be directly coordinating the investigation, has expressed displeasure over the failure of the refineries despite the colossal sums spent.
Insiders disclosed that investigations have established widespread fraud, including over-invoicing, contract inflation, and questionable payments. Former management teams of the refineries have been repeatedly interrogated, while several officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) are now facing imminent prosecution.
“A total sum of $10 million and ₦5 billion has so far been recovered. More recoveries are underway, including another $13 million and ₦10 billion traced to fraudulent contractors,” a senior official at the agency confirmed.
The EFCC is also probing fresh allegations of $40 million in inflated contracts, allegedly involving NNPCL officials and contractors engaged to procure equipment for rehabilitation works.
With parts of the investigation already concluded, the anti-graft agency is preparing charges against some former and serving NNPCL executives.
