Water samples will be collected from wells in both contaminated and non-contaminated sites as well as from the community drinking well for characterisation of oil pollutant using standard methodologies. Indigenous microbes capable of degrading hydrocarbons will be isolated from these wells. Model oil pollution, to mimic that in the Niger Delta, will be constructed at GCU and the effectiveness of (a) natural fibres to remove this pollution; (b) selected indigenous to degrade this model oil either as a liquid film or associated with natural fibres will be evaluated.