title: Remediation of contaminated lands in the Niger Delta, Nigeria: Prospects and challenges.
abstract: Contamination of the total environment (air, soil, water and biota) by crude oil has become a paramount interest in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Studies have revealed variable impacts of oil toxicity on the environment and exposed populations. The revelation gained much international attention in 2011 with the release of Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This has up scaled local and international pressures for urgent clean-up and restoration of degraded bio-resource rich environments of the Niger Delta, starting from Ogoniland. Previous remediation attempts in the area had failed due to erroneous operational conclusions (such as conclusions by oil industry operators that the Niger Delta soil is covered by a layer of clay and as such oil percolation remains within the top soil and makes remediation by enhanced natural attenuation (RENA) suitable for the region) and the adoption of incompatible and ineffective approaches (i.e. RENA) for the complex and dynamic environments. Perennial conflicts, poor regulatory oversights and incoherent standards are also challenges. Following UNEP recommendations, the Federal Government of Nigeria recently commissioned the clean-up and remediation of Ogoniland project; it would be novel and trend setting. While UNEP outlined some measures of contaminated land remediation, no specific approach was identified to be most effective for the Niger Delta region. Resolving the technical dilemma and identified social impediments is the key success driver of the above project. In this paper, we reviewed the socio-economic and ecological impacts of contaminated land in the Niger Delta region and the global state-of-the-art remediation approaches. We use coastal environment clean-up case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of bioremediation (sometimes in combination with other technologies) for remediating most of the polluted sites in the Niger Delta. Bioremediation should primarily be the preferred option considering its low greenhouse gas and environmental footprints, and low-cost burden on the weak and overstretched economy of Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, East-West Road, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria; Environment and Conservation Unit, Center for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), Legacy Centre, 6 Abuja Lane, D-Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Nenibarini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zabbey
authors.affiliation: Cranfield University, School of Water, Energy, and Environment, College Road, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK. Electronic address: k.s.sam@cranfield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kabari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sam
authors.affiliation: Environment and Conservation Unit, Center for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), Legacy Centre, 6 Abuja Lane, D-Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adaugo Trinitas
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Onyebuchi
keywords: Coastal environment; Contaminated land; Niger Delta; Remediation