ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION STRATEGIES FOR OIL SPILL-IMPACTED SITES IN BAYELSA STATE: INSIGHTS FROM FOROPA AND EKENI COMMUNITIES

Oil spills pose significant environmental and socio-economic challenges in Bayelsa State, particularly in Foropa and Ekeni communities, where livelihoods heavily depend on agriculture and fisheries. Despite various remediation efforts, the persistent degradation of ecosystems raises concerns about the effectiveness of current strategies. This study investigates the environmental and socio-economic impacts of oil spills in these communities and evaluates the efficacy of existing remediation strategies. A survey-based quantitative methodology was employed, involving structured questionnaires validated for face and content reliability with a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.78. Data was collected from local environmental officers, remediation experts, and community stakeholders and analyzed using SPSS statistical tools. The findings reveal significant environmental and socio-economic impacts of oil spills on agricultural productivity, fish populations, and livelihoods in Foropa and Ekeni. However, current remediation strategies show no significant effectiveness in addressing these challenges. Additionally, no significant correlation was found between the extent of oil spill impacts and the perceived efficacy of remediation strategies. The study concludes that enhanced remediation approaches, better resource allocation, and integrated efforts are essential to restore environmental health and support livelihoods in these communities. It is recommended to implement tailored remediation strategies focusing on ecosystem restoration and to train local stakeholders in advanced remediation techniques and sustainable practices to build long-term resilience.