Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights Issues in Nigeria’s Post-amnesty Niger Delta

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a standard practice employed by corporate organizations in both extractive and nonextractive industries to address human rights concerns in their business environment. In developed countries, industries view CSR as a social service provided by a social actor in that environment to the community. However, in the developing countries of Africa, there has been little or no commitment to CSR by the companies in the extractive industries, especially the oil industry. Against this background, this article explores the evolution of the concept of corporate social responsibility in human rights discourse in the Niger Delta vis-à-vis the activities of oil multinational corporations. With the aid of in-depth interviews and secondary materials, the article investigates the factors militating against the implementation of CSR policies by the oil MNCs operating in the region. The chapter’s main argument is that little or no implementation of CSR policies by oil MNCs in the region is a major cause of the increased volatility in the area. This is because it emboldens more youths to engage in rights violation protests, which engenders more insecurity in the area. Hence, the paper concluded that a practical and greater commitment to CSR by oil companies is an investment and a measure that can improve the human rights profile in the region for a sustainable business environment.