By A leading academic has asserted that a proactive and holistic media campaign is crucial to resolving the persistent distrust and violence between International Oil Companies (IOCs) and their host communities in the Niger Delta.
Dr. Mrs. Favour Atubi of the Department of Social Science Education, Delta State University, Abraka, identified the media as a pivotal force for building trust, transparency, and mutual understanding, where government efforts have, thus far, fallen short.
Presenting a paper during a training workshop held in partnership with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Warri Correspondents’ Chapel on Tuesday, Dr. Atubi outlined 10 critical roles the media must play to strengthen this strained relationship.
These include educating communities on their rights and the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), acting as a watchdog by scrutinising IOC activities for environmental and ethical breaches, and monitoring the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects.
“Poor management of information can give room for host community violence to grow,” Dr. Atubi stated, referencing scholar Ojakorotu (2021). “The role of the media in this regard has security, social, legal, and political implications.”
A key function highlighted was the media’s capacity to bridge communication gaps, resolve misunderstandings, and report grievances early to “nip conflict in the bud.”
Furthermore, the media was urged to put pressure on IOCs to fulfil their CSR commitments and to ensure balanced reporting that fairly represents all parties.
Dr. Atubi also emphasised the need for cultural sensitivity in reporting, warning against ethnocentrism, and the importance of verifying information from both sides before publication to maintain credibility.
To achieve these goals, several recommendations were put forward. The media should promote media literacy amongst both IOCs and host communities, provide a platform for remote communities whose voices are often unheard, and invest in capacity building for journalists covering the complex oil and gas sector.
In her conclusion, Dr. Atubi affirmed that the media is “essential for promoting trust, transparency and mutual understanding.”
She insisted that for a sustainable relationship to be driven between IOCs and host communities, the media “must remain independent, credible and focused.”
The presentation underscores calls for a renewed and more strategic engagement from Nigerian media outlets to help forge a more stable and cooperative environment in the oil-rich region.
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