A Rivers-born environmental scientist, Dr. Suka Nomta, has announced what he describes as a breakthrough solution to oil-related environmental pollution, including the treatment of contaminated groundwater in the Niger Delta.
Nomta disclosed the development during the Energy and Maritime Reporters (EMR) Roundtable programme on Rivers State Television (RSTV), noting that the innovation is the result of over 30 years of research. He described the solution as an organic-based nanotechnology designed to address persistent pollution challenges in oil-producing regions.
According to him, pollution in the Niger Delta has severely impacted water bodies, ecosystems, infrastructure, and human health, despite various remediation efforts over the years.
“The creeks, waterways, streams, and groundwater are heavily polluted. The Niger Delta remains a fragile ecosystem despite conventional clean-up methods,” he said.
Nomta explained that his technology can break down harmful organic pollutants—specifically Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)—within hours, converting them into water that can be safely discharged or used for irrigation.
He said the innovation has already been tested in selected polluted locations and demonstrated before an oil and gas operator in Nigeria, where results reportedly showed that hydrocarbon-contaminated substances were transformed into water with normal properties.
“At an international conference in Lagos in 2024, experts questioned how quickly this technology could neutralize pollutants. I told them it takes only hours. It’s not about what is possible, but what has been achieved,” he said.
Nomta added that the method could also address challenges associated with “produced water”—a byproduct of oil extraction that contains hydrocarbon contaminants and is typically restricted from discharge by regulators.
“With this technology, produced water can be treated to meet environmental standards and safely returned to the ecosystem or used for irrigation,” he stated.
He further noted that the innovation eliminates the need for disruptive excavation methods currently used in polluted communities, as it can treat contamination at any depth without displacing residents or destroying infrastructure.
While acknowledging that the technology may be more expensive than conventional methods, Nomta emphasized its environmental safety and long-term benefits.
“It poses no risk to humans, crops, soil organisms, or the ecosystem, and prevents re-contamination—unlike some existing methods,” he said.
He maintained that the solution offers a permanent approach to restoring polluted environments to their natural state, particularly in the Niger Delta, where oil spills have caused decades of degradation.
