Oil Exploration and Corporate Social Reponsiblity - A Case of SPDC Global Memorandum of Understanding (G-MOU)

Abstract

Some scholars have argued that the activities of Oil companies (TNCs) have improved or destroyed the livelihood condition of host communities. In line with this debate, this paper examined the thrust of Corporate Social Responsibility as a core value for community engagement interface on oil exploration activity. We argued that lack of genuine community engagement interface by the TNCs in oil activities is the major problem of Niger Delta crisis. The CSR of SPDC value would be used to examine Oil companies'- community engagement interface. The study deplored the interview methods and secondary data for our analysis. The findings are that lack of genuine and transparent engagement strategy by SPDC in the oil exploration activity has resulted to the destruction of the ecosystem as well as livelihood strategy of the host communities. The host communities therefore, experience oil spill, hardship, famine, drought, unemployment, malnutrition, alienation from their land, inter and intra communal conflict and displacement of persons. This is the major agitation in Niger Delta and the sudden closure and/or disruptions of Shell activities in the region. And until the thrust of SPDC - CSR is re-aligned on the path of honesty and transparency, oil exploration would continue to have serious challenges.