Volume 5, Number 1

The study adopted an ex post facto descriptive survey research of the influence of corporate social responsibility programmes of multinational oil corporations on peace development in the Niger Delta, Nigeria.

The stratified random sampling technique was used to select 1126 residents from twelve communities in the Akwa-Ibom and Rivers State. These two states were selected because the multinational oil corporations (MNCs) operate mainly in the areas prone to conflict. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 50 officials each from Exxon Mobil and Total Exploration. The Host Community Multinational Oil Responsibility Inventory (HCMORS) (r = 0.74) and Multinational Oil Corporations Company Officials’ Scale MOCOS (r = 0.71) were used complemented by focus group discussions held with residents of the selected communities. One hypothesis and a research question were answered and tested at the 0.05 level of significance. Data were analysed using descriptive and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation. The result of the influence of Multinational Oil Corporations Corporate Social Responsibility on peace building is as follows r = .029, N = 1126, P >.05. Provision of good drinking water X = 2.6980, renovation of hospital X = 2.6980, solution to electricity problems X = 2.6522, educational development X = 2.5853, road construction X = 2.3002, peaceful relationship X = 2.2691, economic empowerment X = 2.0870. The study will help the multinational oil corporations’ officials to understand the reasons for the conflict in the region and also the effect of such conflict on their operations and its economic impact on the host communities. If the MNCs operating in Niger Delta follow the principle of corporate integrity, they will be able to reach out to the host communities in their area of operations and this will help them to maintain cordial relationships with these communities.  

Keywords: Corporate integrity; conflict resolution; peace building; Niger Delta.