This study was conducted to identify and characterize bacteria capable of degrading spent oil contaminated soil. The physicochemical parameters of used engine oil were analyzed according to existing standards, while the total heterotrophic plate counts (HBC) and hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria counts were ascertained with the pour plate methods using nutrient agar and minimal salt agar (MSA) media respectively. The results indicated a mean total HBC ranging from 2.86 ± 0.08 to 5.76 log
10 CFU/g and mean hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial counts from 1.32 ± 0.09 to 3.82 ± 0.25 log
10 CFU/g, with samples enriched with
Glycine max (Soybean) recorded to have the highest bacterial counts. The phenotypic identification of the hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria as sources of carbon and energy showed the presence of two primary bacterial genera:
Bacillus
and
Micrococcus
. However, from the overall 50 counted colonies, the frequency of occurrence for
Bacillus was 41 (82 %) whereas, the
Micrococcus was (9) 18%. The obtained data, confirmed the breakdown capacity of autochthonous (indigenous) organisms notably;
Bacillus in the reduction of pollutants linked with oil spillage. This provides for reliable and promising approach of ameliorating crude oil pollutants and its inherent threats.
