COMMUNICATION FOR THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF OIL SPILLAGE CONFLICTS IN BAYELSA STATE

COMMUNICATION FOR THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF OIL SPILLAGE CONFLICTS IN BAYELSA STATE

Abstract:

Oil spillages and gas flaring occurring as a result of excessive exploration of crude oil and gas by multinational corporations in hosting communities in Bayelsa and other Niger Delta States have led to environmental damages which have affected both the health and means to livelihood of members of hosting communities. These spillages have resulted into several conflicts between the indigenes of Bayelsa State and multinationals as most of the efforts which have been put have not been able to address successfully the totality of the problems because of the communication model adapted to tackling these issues. Against this backdrop, the imperative is to interrogate the communication approaches adopted in addressing conflict resolution and management in Bayelsa State in particular and Niger Delta in general. The Environment Communication Theory was used as the theoretical framework for this research. The study made use of the quantitative survey research by purposively using a population of one hundred and fourteen (114) respondents systematically administered copies of the questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. From the results of the data gathered and analysed so far, it was discovered that the use of communication process such advocacy visits, and town hall meetings as a conflict communication approach could be strengthened with the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders to discuss the cause, effect and ways of resolving conflict in the areas. Based on this finding, the research concludes that conventional methods of dealing with contradictions in the Niger Delta cannot be said to have broker peace in the region hence the adoption of the alternative participatory communication perspectives which allows for the people‘s involvement in negotiations, dialogues and the charting of sustainable conflict resolution process and development interventions by the oil and gas companies and the Federal Government. Therefore, it recommended that a wide raging development interventions aimed at the remediation‘s of degraded and polluted environments, provisions of public infrastructures and youth employments by the Federal, State and Multinational oil and gas companies would bring about sustainable armistice in the Niger Delta Region

COMMUNICATION FOR THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF OIL SPILLAGE CONFLICTS IN BAYELSA STATE

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