Social License Effects on Conflict Management and Oil Pollution in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Abstract

Social License to operate is an important tool for achieving successful oil operations in any community. Conflicts are constant happenings in the Niger Delta. These conflicts sometimes, get so severe occasioning destruction of property and avoidable killings. Conflicts between oil companies and host communities are mainly due to lack of Social License to operate This paper examined the impact of Social License on conflict management and oil pollution in the Niger Delta. The study was conducted in six communities, two each from Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa States respectively. These states have the highest incidence of oil pollution in the region. A simple random sampling technique was used to select households for the study. The sample size was 157. Structured Interview schedule constituted the instrument for data collection. The study identified low community involvement as the highest factor, amongst the main causes of conflict in the Niger Delta region, indicating that a high-level community involvement by way of Social License ensures a peaceful co-existence between oil companies and communities. The study also identified that though artisanal crude oil refining impacts negatively on the environment and livelihoods in the Niger Delta, host community members do not react violently or oppose its operations due to high level community involvement. This signifies Social License. It was thus recommended that operating oil companies in the Niger Delta region should have high level community involvement in their actions to avoid conflicts.