Connivance in Criminality: Corruption and Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria’s Oil Sector

Abstract

Nigeria is notorious for corruption. Series of Corruption Perceptions Index prepared by Transparency International have always rated Nigeria higher in corrupt activities. The corruption in the oil sector as the dominant source of revenue for the country is endemic and perhaps responsible for the environmental mess being experienced in the Niger Delta and other oil-producing communities. Despite various interventions by government and oil companies, the situation even continued to degenerate to one of environmental catastrophes and increasing poverty. This study examines the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in bridging the developmental gap in oil-producing communities. However, while oil companies have been engaging and providing CSR, the paper’s argument is that the challenge of endemic corruption has affected any impact that such CRS intervention could provide. Corruption in Corporate Social Responsibilty, which if done within such communities concerned, the paper’s arguement amounts to connivance in criminality, which certainly distorts the very objectives of any CSR activities in the oil-producing communities.