Rejuvenation of HYPREP-Remediated Soil in Nkeleoken, Eleme LGA Through Oilzapper® and Bio-NPK-Based Soil Restoration

Location: Nkeleoken, Eleme Local Government Area (LGA), Rivers State, Nigeria

TERI’s internationally proven Oilzapper® bioremediation technology is being demonstrated in Nigeria as part of a post-remediation soil rehabilitation programme under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP). The field trial aims to restore the productivity of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils that had undergone primary remediation but continued to exhibit nutrient deficiencies and poor vegetation growth.

Implemented in collaboration with Contec Global Agro Limited (CGAL), the project evaluates the effectiveness of Oilzapper microbial consortia and Bio-NPK fertilizer in improving soil health, reducing residual petroleum hydrocarbons, and enhancing crop productivity on remediated lands. The study follows a two-phase approach. During Phase I, contaminated soil plots were treated with Oilzapper and nutrient amendments, followed by monitoring of hydrocarbon degradation, microbial activity, and soil quality parameters. Significant reductions in Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) levels, along with improvements in soil pH, microbial counts, and nutrient status, were observed within one month of treatment.

Subsequent observations showed visible microbial growth, improved soil texture, and the reappearance of terrestrial invertebrates, key indicators of ecosystem recovery.

Phase II focuses on evaluating the growth performance of crops such as maize, cassava, cucumber, and fluted pumpkin under different soil treatment strategies. The project is expected to generate valuable insights into sustainable post-remediation soil management and demonstrate how biotechnology-based interventions can accelerate ecological restoration and support agricultural productivity in oil-impacted regions.