Soil pollution by crude oil and its by products as a result of illegal (“Kpo-fire”) crude oil refining is one of the most common environmental challenges in the Niger Delta. This study was carried out on a laboratory scale, to evaluate the effect of illegally refined crude oil residue on soil fungi, using standard microbiological methods. Soil samples were taken from the University farm where there is no history of such contamination. | Effect of illegally refined crude oil kpo- fire residue on soil fungi