CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE NIGER DELTA

ABSTRACT: This paper analyzes the nexus between corporate social responsibility and communitydevelopment in Niger Delta, using the case of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company and community development inselected host communities in Bayelsa State. The paper revealed that, the oil companies score conspicuously lowin the discharge of Corporate Social Responsibility activities in tandem with the huge profit they make from thearea. This is because the living standard of the local people is still low and in pitiable conditions. Again,whereas, there are memoranda of understanding signed between the oil companies and the host communities,the oil companies more often than not fail to implement such agreement which negate the promotion ofcommunity development. More so, MOU’s programmes do not reflect the priority needs of the people, whichmake such projects subject to abuse and misuse. The paper therefore recommends that the laws governing theNigerian oil industry must be reviewed to compel oil companies to carry out social responsibility activities.Moreso, the MOU’s must be respected, implemented and fully driven by the spirit of popular participation togive the oil bearing communities a sense of belonging, if that is done, it will help to close the curtain of strainedrelationship between oil companies and their host communities.

KEYWORDS: Oil, Development, Corporate Social Responsibility, Multinational Corporations.