Evaluation of on-shore oil spill remediation operations in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Most oil producing regions in the world today are experiencing serious hydrocarbon spillages on land and water. The problem is more prevalent in developing countries where greater premium is always placed on the oil money than on the environment and the inhabitants of oil producing regions. The study is an attempt to unravel the effectiveness of clean-up exercises undertaken by oil companies each time oil spillage occurs. The results show that two years after the programme the efficiency level of the remediation exercise is very low as evidenced by the heavy presence of microbiological accumulation in the soil. Thus, there is need for more thoroughness in the clean-up exercise. Monitoring agencies should also be more efficient while respective oil companies need to be more responsive so as to avert the attendant violent protests from the affected communities.