CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF OIL MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS: A FOCUS ON THE CHALLENGES OF ENVIRONMENTAL

The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the ever alarming constraints and challenges faced due to oil extraction in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The Niger Delta is one of the poorest regions in Nigeria due to underdevelopment and the nonchalant attitude on the part of the government to make provision for economic and infrastructural development in the region. The paper argues that while the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of oil Multinational Corporations (MNCs) has not reached its full capacity, government on the other hand, not only lack the intellectual "know-how" of tackling the operations and activities of the oil MNCs, but also refrains from rendering suitable solutions to restiveness in the region. Under-development in the region is tilted from the part of the oil MNCs' push for exploitative susceptibilities which has invariably led to environmental degradation, poverty, displacement, and a high level of restiveness. Also the issue of excruciating poverty and the quality of life of the people have not been properly dealt with as government has not done much to diversify the natural resources of the nation into other key productive areas. Hence, the general belief that organizations and the society gain when social responsibility on the part of organizations is exhibited is therefore questioned.