Problem: Soil Contamination Through oil spillage and Pipe line Vandalizing

Soil contamination by crude oil has been a major problem in the Niger Delta region since the day oil was discovered in that region. Soil which is that part of land where plants grow is very vital towards the survival of people living around there. Contamination has various adverse effects on the environment; it reduces the aesthetic, visual and economic value of the soil and also instigates odor pollution. Soil contamination is the reduction in the man’s use of soil by addition of substance into the environment, hence increasing natural concentration, which in turn make that part of the environment very offensive to man and other animals, through man’s activity. During oil exploration and transportation the soil is being contaminated either by leaky tanks, use of metal components, industrial processing, oil spillage and pipeline vandalizing. When this soil got contaminated it becomes infertile and posses treat to human being and other animals’ sustainability and continuity because the plants find it difficult to grow in an infertile land causing food shortage, and when there is no green plant oxygen cannot be produce which is a threat to human life. When the soil is contaminated and becomes infertile it causes other problems like inadequate shelter and erosion control

Solution: Practicing Phytoremediation

Phytoremediation is an integrated multidisciplinary approach to the cleanup of contaminated soils, which combines the discipline of plant physiology, soil chemistry and soil microbiology; metal-accumulator plants are attracting increasing attention because of their potential application in decontaminating polluted soil. Traditional engineering technologies may be too expensive for remediation of contaminated sites. The massive contamination of the Niger Delta environment which have been a major issue to the growth of the region and Nigeria can be controlled by engaging in commercialized phytoremediation. Phytoremediation which simply means the use of plants to reclaim contaminated soil have been proved to be cost effective, hazard free, comprehensive and reliable in reclaiming contaminated soil, this method of making the soil free from contaminants should be recommended for the environmental stability of the Niger Delta because anybody can practice it. When all the governmental body, non-governmental organization, companies and individuals in the region engage in phytoremediation it will go a long way to reclaim the long lost agricultural soil of the region, boost the economy of the country and checkmate violence