Strenghtening Community Environmental Performance, Trust and Social Cohesion Between Communities and Companies in Rivers State

Abstract

The study examines existing relationship between oil producing communities and multinational oil companies in the Niger Delta, when responding to oil spills. The main objective of the study was to ensure that target communities in Rivers State benefit from improved relationship with relevant actors and improved oil spill prevention mechanism and procedures. The study was anchored on Marx theoretical framework. The nature of the study was qualitative, and the purposive sampling method was used to select Bomu community. Oral interview was used as the primary method of data collection from relevant stakeholders of the community. These stakeholders included paramount ruler, clergy, women leader, and elders of the community. The study found that Shell poor environmental practices in the area especially in relationship to clean up of oil spills sites and payment of compensation to affected individuals was a major cause of conflict between the community and Shell. The study recommended remediation of impacted sites, compensation of affected community members and swift response to oil spills as a way of improving relationship between Shell and community.