Abstract

This paper explores how adequate are oil and gas companies to compensate the damage done by their oil exploration. The study is based extensively on primary fieldwork in local host communities in the oil-producing areas of Eastern Obolo in Rivers State, Nigeria drawing on the experiences and perceptions of 31 community heads, Chief fishermen, youth leaders, the chairman of the Eastern Obolo Community Relations Committee (CRC), the paramount chief and sub-chiefs, and Community Relations Managers of Oil Companies. The average age of participants was 37 years. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants using in-depth interview techniques to gather the needed data. Our results show that distributive and procedural justice and people’s rights to self-determination and fair compensation have been compromised in policy initiatives. Harmonising layers of critical laws, including the enforcement of social and environmental protection, must remain a priority though challenges inherent in the legal framework regulating compensation go beyond the impacts of social and environmental governance.

摘要

本文探讨了石油和天然气公司对石油勘探造成的损害进行补偿的程度。该研究广泛基于尼日利亚河流州东奥博洛产油区当地收容社区的初步实地调查，借鉴了 31 位社区负责人、首席渔民、青年领袖、东奥博洛社区主席的经验和看法关系委员会 (CRC)、石油公司的最高主管和副主管以及社区关系经理。参与者的平均年龄为 37 岁。使用深度访谈技术对关键知情人进行半结构化访谈以收集所需数据。我们的结果表明，分配和程序正义以及人们的自决权和公平补偿权在政策举措中受到了损害。