The efficacy of fungal isolates in the bioremediation of crude oil was assessed. The fungal isolates were obtained from soils collected from four different points. The soils (whose physical properties were determined), were subjected to the standard serial dilution technique and viable fungal isolates which were potential crude oil degraders were the obtained, sub cultured, and characterized. Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium notatum and Rhizopus nigricans were the isolates obtained, with Aspergillus niger having the highest rate of occurrence. The isolates were assayed using four crude oil types [Bonny light, Dubr oil and Escravos light (Nigerian crude oils) and Arabian light (an Arabian crude oil)] and the extent of degradation was determined. Some of the isolates were able to grow profusely on the Nigerian crude oils but none of them grew profusely on the Arabian crude oil. Rhizopus nigricans recorded the highest efficacy in crude oil degradation (as determined by oil weight loss) while Aspergillus niger showed the least. It is observed that these fungal isolates have shown promise and under the right condition might do as well as their bacterial counterparts in the biotechnology of crude oil degradation. Also, it is advised that isolates which are to be employed in a particular region be isolated locally since indigenous isolates found it easier to proliferate on indigenous crude oil samples.

KEYWORDS: bioremediation, crude oil, spillage, indigenous fungi