1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
Oil spill is an unintentional release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment as a result of human activities, Aghalino (2000). They are usually caused by accidents involving oil tankers, refineries, pipelines and oil storage facilities. The accident can be caused by human mistakes or carelessness and sometimes by natural disaster such as earthquakes, deliberate acts by terrorist, militants or vandals. In Nigeria the major cause of oil spill is attributed to lack of regular maintenance of the pipelines and storage tanks.
Most pipelines from the flow stations are absolutely being more than 20 fears making them subject to corrosion and leakage. Some of these pipes are laid above ground level without adequate seuvillance exposing them to wear and tear and other dangers, Oyem (2001).
Another major cause of oil spill here is sabotage which involves bunkering by some unpatriotic Nigerians. They damage pipelines in the attempt to steal oil from them.
The negative impact of this oil spill includes, destruction of wildlife, lost of fertile soil, that is a decrease in soil nutrient including sulphate, Nitrate and Nitrite, pollution of air and water and damage of the ecosystem of the host community. The ecological problems observed as a result of oil spill includes a brownish vegetation and soil erosion, diminishing resources of the nutral ecosystem, fertile land turned barren and adverse effect on the life, health and economy of the people affected, Robert (2001).
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