Conflict Management through Corporate Social Responsibility in Shell, NNPC and Chevron in Delta and Rivers States

This study examined the conflict management through Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes of Shell, NNPC and Chevron in Delta and Rivers States. The objectives were among others to find out the extent unfulfilled Corporate Social Responsibility obligations may have caused conflicts between Shell, NNPC Chevron and the host communities in Delta and Rivers States, Nigeria. The frustration-aggression theory was adopted. The research design adopted for this study was the descriptive survey design. The population of this study is made up two streams, the public relations units and departments of the oil companies and the residents of the communities where the companies operate. For the oil companies, Shell, NNPC and Chevron, the public relations staff 145. The population of the residents of the communities of the two states, Rivers and Delta States was 145 from the oil companies and 1,841,110 from the host communities the population of the study with the total 1,841,255. The sample size for the study is 384 according to Krejcie and Morgan sample table. The sampling techniques used in this study were multi-stage cluster and purposive. The researcher obtained the data for this study using questionnaire and interview guide. The researcher adopted quantitative and qualitative methods to present and analyze the data gathered from the respondents. The finding revealed that the extent unfulfilled CSR obligations responsible for the conflicts between Shell, NNPC and Chevron, and the host communities in Delta and Rivers State were high extent. The host communities accepted that the extent of unfulfilled CSR obligations responsible for the conflicts between Shell, NNPC and Chevron and the host communities in Delta and Rivers State were a high. The study concluded that a concerning trend wherein unfulfilled CSR obligations have led to conflicts between the multinational oil companies and their respective host communities. The study recommended that it is imperative for Shell, NNPC and Chevron to prioritise their CSR commitments, engage in meaningful dialogue with community stakeholders and implement transparent accountability mechanisms to ensure the fulfilment of promises.