ABSTRACT
Oil was first discovered in commercial quantities by Shell BP in the Ijaw community of Oloibiri in 1956, in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Since then, the Nigerian government and oil companies have continually engaged in oil production at the expense of local communities. This had led to conflict between the community and the Government or the oil companies in some cases. This study was designed to assess the public relations strategies by the Bayelsa State Government for bringing about harmony between and the oil producing communities. The study was guided by three research questions; what is the citizens opinion about the Bayelsa State Government public relations practice to promote harmonious relations between the Bayelsa State Government and oil producing communities?; what are the public relations strategies of the Bayelsa State Government for maintaining harmony between it and the oil producing communities of the state and what is the effectiveness of the public relations strategies employed by the Bayelsa State Government to promote harmonious relationship between it and the oil producing communities? The study was restricted in scope to Bayelsa State and some of its oil producing communities which include; Olusasiri, Ogbolomabiri Olobiri and Imiringi communities. At the end of the research, it was gathered that the public relations strategies used by the government include dialogue, Community initiative, situational approach and pull out, provision of Amenities, giving gifts the leaders, military intervention and no communication from the government. From the findings of the study, it was recommended that The Bayelsa state government should not allow the situation in the Niger Delta to relapse to the bad old days of kidnappings and hostage-taking of oil workers. They must try to improve upon the level of mutual understanding between them and the oil producing communities, through effective public relations crisis management tools.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract
Table of Contents
List of Tables
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Aim/Objectives of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Significance of the Study
1.6 Scope of the Study
1.7 Operational Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Theoretical Framework
2.1.1 Theory of Negative and Positive Peace
2.1.2 Frustration-Aggressive Theory
2.2 Conceptual Review
2.2.1 Objective of Public Relations
2.2.2 Types of Public Relations
2.2.3 Importance of Public Relations
2.3 History of Public Relations in Nigeria.
2.4. Public Relations and the Government.
2.5 Public Relation Strategies in an Organization
2.6 Methods of Crisis Management
2.7 Grass Root Community-Based Activities
2.8 Review of Empirical Studies
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population of the Study
3.3 Sample and Sampling Procedure
3.4 Sources of Data Collection
3.5 Description of the Research Instruments
3.6 Validity of the Instruments
3.7 Reliability of the Instruments
3.8 Method of Data collection
3.9 Method of Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.0 Introduction
4.1 Quantitative Data Analysis
4.2 Qualitative Data Analysis
CHAPTERFIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
5.4 Contribution to Knowledge
5.5 Suggestion for Further Studies
REFERENCES
APPENDIX 1
APPENDIX 2
APPENDIX 3
APPENDIX 4
APPENDIX 5
LIST OF TABLES
Table 3.1: Population of Nembe and Ogbia Local Government Areas
Table 3.2 Krejcie and Morgan’s prescription of sample size for different population at 95% confidence level.
Table 4.1 Demographic Distribution of Respondents
Table 4.2: Government Channel for Relating with Community
Table 4.3: Respondents Response on the Government Contribution
to Community Development
Table 4.4: Respondents Response on the Means of Resolving Conflict
with the Government
Table 4.5: Respondents Channel to Pass Complaint to the Government
Table 4.6: Respondents Perception on the Adequacy of the Governments Public Relation Strategies in Addressing Environmental Issues.
Table 4.7: Respondents Response on the Effectiveness of the Governments Public Relation Strategies in Managing Environmental Conflicts.
Table 4.8: Respondents Perception on the Effectiveness of the Governments Public Relation Strategies
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
- Background to the Study
The Nigerian oil and gas industry dates back to 1958 when oil was first discovered by Shell D’Arcy at Oloibiri Field in the Eastern Niger Delta Basin in the present day Bayelsa State. By the late seventies, Nigeria had attained a production level of over 2 million barrels of crude oil a day. Although production figures dropped in the eighties due to economic decline, 2004 saw a total renewal of oil production to a record level of 2.5 million barrels per day. Since then, more than 500 oil and gas fields have been discovered, with more than half currently producing at onshore locations. Present development strategies are directed at increasing production to 4 million barrels per day in the near future. The foremost role of petroleum production and export in Nigeria’s economy has had a very profound impact on National economic development through the decades. (NNPC Corporate Profile, 2010).
Onyeozu (2007) stated that since the commencement of oil business operations in Nigeria in the early fifties, the relationship between business organizations and communities which was built on trust had continued to be friendly and cordial with the communities reclining confidence in the goodwill of their guests. However, from the 1970s till date, there has been a gradual decline from uneasy acceptance to the present series of youth militancy and outcry for resource control, largely premised on the existence of abject poverty and widespread degradation of the environment in the host communities (Onyeozu, 2007). In view of this development in the oil and gas sector, active public relations practice is a necessity for the government to achieve a good relationship with the oil producing communities for smooth operations and meaningful growth.
According to the Institute for Public Relations, USA, public relations is the deliberate, planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain mutual understanding between on organization and its publics. Cutlip et al. (2000, p.4) expands on this definition: public relation is the management function that establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and the publics on whom its success or failure depends. Similarly, Harlow (1976, p.35) describes public relations as a distinctive management function which helps establish and maintain mutual lines of communication, understanding, acceptance and cooperation between an organization and its publics; involves the management of problems or issues; helps management to keep informed on and responsive to public opinion; defines and emphasizes the responsibility of management to serve the public interest; helps management keep abreast of and effectively utilize change, serving as an early warning system to help anticipate trends; and uses research and sound and ethical communication as its principal tools.”. As these definitions highlight, public relations are a diverse profession that seeks to ensure that organizations manage their relationships with a variety of stakeholders and broader publics (Martinelli, 2011).
Public relations in government can be said to be the communication between the leaders and the members of the community. The government can be seen as a body and an institution, therefore their attempt to communicate to the members of a community is counted as public relations, which is often called government relations (Onoh, 2015).
In order to manage the public image and stakeholder relationships of companies and organizations, public relations practitioners employ a variety of communication tactics, including media releases, social media accounts, media events, backgrounders, fact sheets, flyers, pamphlets, annual reports, newsletters, and other materials. Senior practitioners are responsible for planning the details of what, how and why their organizations communicate with strategic publics (Mahoney, 2013).
1.2Â Statement of the Problem
According to Ogbebor and Undebbulu (2007), the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria is the base of Nigeria’s crude oil which accounts for approximately 90% of Nigeria’s revenue and provides more than 90% of total export. It also accounts for 28% of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) as well as sizeable employment opportunities for both citizens and expatriates. It is a fact that this sector is very important to the nation’s economy. However, the sector faces a lot of challenges associated with community hostilities. The conflict between oil companies and their host communities such as Olusasiri and Ogbolomabiri in Nembe Local Government Area; Olobiri and Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area in the Niger Delta region have oftentimes resulted in the stoppage of operations by Agip and Shell Oil Companies in those areas, bringing untold economic losses to the nation. It has also prompted a climate of hostility which makes working in the areas very unsafe for the oil workers. Also, the deliberate vandalization of oil pipe-lines in forms of protests or sabotage, have sometimes brought bad consequences to those communities. Continued conflicts in the Niger Delta region is of no good to any of the parties involved; neither the oil companies, nor their host communities nor the Federal or State Government. Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating the public relations strategies which the government uses to promote harmonious relationship between them and the oil producing communities, using Bayelsa state as a case study.
1.3Â Aim/Objectives of the Study
This study was designed to assess the public relations strategies by the Bayelsa State Government for bringing about harmony between and the oil producing communities. The study specifically sought to;
- Find out the public’s opinion of the relations between the Bayelsa State Government and the oil producing communities.
- Investigate the public relations strategies of the Bayelsa State Government for maintaining harmony between it and the oil producing communities of the
- Ascertain the effectiveness of the public relations strategies employed by the Bayelsa State Government to promote harmonious relationship between it and the oil producing
1.4 Research Questions
- What is the citizens’ opinion about the Bayelsa State Government public relations practice to promote harmonious relations between the Bayelsa State Government and oil producing communities?
- What are the public relations strategies of the Bayelsa State Government for maintaining harmony between it and the oil producing communities of the state?
- What is the effectiveness of the public relations strategies employed by the Bayelsa State Government to promote harmonious relationship between it and the oil producing communities?
1.5Â Significance of the Study
This study aimed to highlight the fact that public relations strategies are important management tools in promoting harmony between oil producing communities and government. This work is significant in many ways;
- It will help the government to put in more efforts in public relations and to be more sensitive to the aspirations of the oil producing communities.
- It will help the government and the public to appreciate more the role of public relations and accord it a place of responsibility and acceptability as a management
- It will help the public relations officer to broaden their perception of their duties and what is required of them as professionals.
- It will serve as a feed-back mechanism between the government and the oil producing
1.6Â Scope of the Study
The study was restricted in scope to Bayelsa State and some of its oil producing communities which include; Olusasiri and Ogbolomabiri Nembe in Local Government Area; Olobiri and Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area Also, the public relations strategies of the Bayelsa State Government which was studied to determine how they promote a harmonious relationship between it and the oil producing communities.
1.7Â Operational Definition of Terms
- Communication: The act of passing messages of understanding by the state government to the oil producing communities of Bayelsa State.
- Harmonious relationship: It refers to mutual relationship between the Bayelsa State Government and the host communities
- Oil producing communities: Olusasiri and Ogbolomabiri in Nembe Local Government Area; Olobiri and Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area are the communities where oil is currently produced and they serve as major revenue earner for the Federal
- Strategies: It means in this study, skillful plans adopted by Bayelsa State Government in communicating messages to Bayelsa State Government and oil producing communities
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