The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intensified its scrutiny of Nigeria’s solid minerals industry after uncovering four suspected illegal lithium-processing plants in Ogere, Ogun State, and arresting 15 people, including 14 Chinese nationals.
The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation carried out on Friday, October 23, 2026, by operatives of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2.
The operation focused on facilities suspected of processing lithium without the required authorisation. The commission said the suspects comprised 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian, although it had yet to release their identities or provide details of the companies linked to the facilities.
Items recovered during the operation included bags of lithium-bearing rocks, 18 mobile phones, four laptop computers, two decoders, a television remote control and a trailer truck.
The discovery has drawn attention to regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s mineral-processing sector, where the government has been seeking to increase domestic value addition and ensure that mineral resources are developed within the law.
Lithium is an important component in rechargeable batteries used in mobile phones, electric vehicles and energy-storage systems. Growing demand for battery materials has increased interest in lithium resources across several countries, including Nigeria.
The EFCC’s action also raises questions about the documentation, ownership and operational permits of mineral-processing facilities, particularly where foreign nationals are involved. Investigators are expected to establish the circumstances under which the plants operated and whether any financial or other offences were committed.
The commission has not yet disclosed the quantity or estimated value of the materials recovered, nor has it detailed the specific offences that may be brought against the suspects.
The arrested individuals remain suspects, and any allegations against them will be subject to investigation and judicial determination.
The EFCC said investigations were continuing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of the process.