EXPLORING AND EXPLOITING THE POTENTIALS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE QUEST FOR MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE NIGER DELTA ENVIRONMENT: A CASE OF RIVERS STATE

This paper is designed to unbundle the potentials of the ten commandments of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Quest for Environmental Management and Sustainability in the Niger Delta. The rationale for the choice of this theme is predicated on the perennial environmental pollutions associated with oil exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The paper draws its strengths from the “Ten Commandments of Corporate Social Responsibility.” The work is anchored on qualitative research and observation approach. Consequently, the following findings are made among others: There is absence of adherence to prescriptions of “Ten Commandments of Corporate Social Responsibility” in the operations of the multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta hence the threat to the sustainability of our environment. Also, there is a growing destruction of aquatic lives and sea foods as a result of legal and illegal oil production in the Niger Delta. Again, lack of application of the Ten Commandments of Corporate Social Responsibility has also led to frosty relationships between must multinational oil companies and their host communities particularly Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). A case in point is the conflict between Soku/ Bille communities vs. SPDC over OML 25 in Rivers State. In view of the above, the following recommendations are made among others: There should be strict adherence to the Ten Commandments of Corporate Social Responsibility by oil exploration and production company`s operating in the Niger Delta in order to minimize environmental pollution and the destruction of ecosystems. Again, there should be aggressive remediation of land in the oil bearing communities especially the ones that are ravaged by oil spillage with the aim of re-engineering their land for future agricultural purposes.