ABSTRACT
This
study deals with public relations as a tool for conflict management in the
Niger Delta (A Case Study of Niger Delta Development Commission). The specific
area of study is Port- Harcourt Umuahia, Owerri and Yenogoa.Some hypotheses
were put up to guide during the research work.
Literature
review and some reference were made to relate the contemporary conflict in the
region by the researcher in chapter two of this work.
The
researcher then used questionnaire oral interview and direct observation for
collecting the necessary data and information required the Yaro Yamemi
statistical tool was used to determine the sample size. The validity and
reliability of instruments were shown.
In
chapter four, the researcher presented and analyzed the data gotten from the
questionnaire by using simple tables and percentages. Also the hypothesis
put up were vividly fasted using the chi-square formula.Finally at chapter
five, findings of the study shown that ecological degradation is the major
cause of the conflict in the Niger Delta and public relations plays a major
role in the management of the conflict and its tools are very effective.
Some
conclusions were drawn and recommendation made at last. Suggestions for further
study was also given
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
ONE
Introduction
1.1
Background of study.
1.2
Statements of problem.
1.3
Objective of the study.
1.4
Research questions
1.5
Researches hypothesis
1.6
Significance of the study
1.7
Scope of the study
1.8
Limitations of the study
1.9
Definitions of terms.
References
CHAPTER
TWO
Literature Review
2.1
The concept of Niger delta
2.2
Contemporary conflict in the Niger delta
2.3
Management of the conflict in the Niger delta
2.4
The relationship between oil companies and the Niger delta.
References
CHAPTER
THREE
RESEARCH
DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3.0
Introduction to the study
3.1
Research design
3.2
Area of study
3.3
Population of the study
3.4
Sample size determination
3.5
Instrument for data collection
3.6
Validation of the instrument
3.1
Reliability of the instrument
3.2
Method of data collection
3.3
Method of data analysis
CHAPTER
FOUR
DATA
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1
Presentation & analysis of data
4.2
Testing of hypothesis
4.3
Summary of result.
CHAPTER
FIVE
DISCUSSION
RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
5.1
Discussion of result finding
5.2
Conclusion
5.3
Recommendation
5.4
Suggestion for further study
Bibliography
Appendix
1
Appendix
2
CHAPTER
ONE
INTORDUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Public relations were not generally a full-time
profession until after the first world war-1914-1918. The first practitioners
were the press agents of the 1900’s. During that period, public relations was
not recognized as a public relations were restricted to publicity and commercial
notices (Thompson 2003:39). A change in the traditional public relations
practices came first in the united states when IVY L. Lee, a journalist was
hired in 1906 as a publicity adviser to a private industrial establishment (a
group of anthracite operators) for image creation improved workers attitude and
improved cooperate and competitive policy formulation with the aim of achieving
the organization’s goals. (Benton 1974:285)
Public relations become recognized as a management
function.
The emergence of public relations as a management
function led to further improvement on public relations tolls like
public opinion, publicity, advertising propaganda press release conference
etc. government agencies began to hire experienced people for publicity
function in the 1920’s during that period further development of public
relation’s practices was achieve public relations is the art and science of
achieving harmony with the environment through mutual understanding based on
truth and full information (black 1989:210). This means that public
relations is a distinctive management function which helps in establishing and
maintaining mutual lines of communication, understanding acceptance and
cooperation between a organization and its public.
As a management function, public relations play
a vital role in formulation of competitive business strategies such
as cooperate planning research marketing information and other from of business
intelligence geared towards the realization of the organizations goals. (Gruing
1994:33)
Organization public relations management and policy
formulation came after the world war 11 (1938-1945) particularly in west
Europe. After the war organized public relations penetrated into Asia,
Africa and latin America through colonialism. The British west African
public service for instance had the public relations department in
1945.(Omeokwe 1997:33)
Government public relations department performs
various management functions. These include evaluation public attitude
identification and formulation of policies and procedure for community
government relations planning and execution of programmes and actions to earn
public understanding and acceptance and the use of information to influence
public opinion.
Social responsibility was seen by the government as a
unique way of promoting peace and order in communities with natural
resources. This gave rise to derivation principle after 1945. The
government also adopted to use of corporate social responsibility to enhance
harmony and goodwill in communities hosting multi-national oil companies like
the shell-BP (Amu 1998:12)
Over
the years there have been reported cases of arms conflict, oil pipeline
vandelization attack on multi national oil companies and their expatriate staff
some of who are either held hostage or killed in controversial circumstance and
agitation for improve standard of living of the oil producing states the Niger
Delta. The has led to intervention by the federal government the
oil producing companies international quarters and the public on ways to
solving the crisis in the Niger Delta through public relations approach.
The
focus of this study therefore is to investigate the role of public relations in
the management of crisis in the oil producing areas of Nigeria using the Niger
Delta development commission (NDDC) as a case study.
1.2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The
prevalence of crisis in the Niger Delta indicates that an adequate public
relations approach has not been given to the area in the management of the
crisis. Corporate social responsibility and community relations are necessary
elements of harmonious co-existence. The Niger Delta constitutes a unique
region in the development process of Nigeria because 99 present of the oil
economy are produced in the area. That not with standing, the area is
characterized by pervasive poverty and environment degradation with lack of
intrinsic development stagnation in agricultural productivity and other areas.
It
appears that the government and the multi- national oil companies do not
adequately discharge their social obligations to the Nigeria Delta. A
proper assessment not analysis of the social and economic need of the oil producing
communities of the Niger Delta using public relations approach has become
necessary.
Presently,
the environment and ecological problems of the Niger Delta emanating from oil
exploration and exploitation is enormous. Inadequate attention to these
problems by the government and the multi-national oil companies operating in
the Niger Delta can cause social tensions between the local communities and oil
companies on one hand and with the state and federal government on the
other.
The
youths out of frustration and indignation takes to violent actions. This in
turn lead to general deterioration of both political and social cohesion in the
region.
The
military adopted an adhoc measure in addressing the problems in the Niger Delta
by setting up the presidential task force under general Sani Abacha
regime and later the oil mineral producing areas development
commission (OMPADEC) by general Abdusalami Abubakar. The adhoc
commission did not live up to their expectation necessitating the emergence of
Niger Delta development commission (NDDC).
Since
the establishment of the Niger Delta development commission in 1999,t he crisis
in the Niger Delta has intensified. The Egbosu, Movement for the Survival of
Ogoni People (MOSOP); the Warri youths movement, Dokubo militant group among
others have continued to unleash violent attacks on multi- national oil
companies and oil pipeline vandalisation in the Niger Delta.
The
focus of this study therefore, is to investigate the role of public relations
in the management of the crisis in the Niger Delta using the NDDC as a case
study.
1.3
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The
major objective of the study is to investigate the role of public relations in
the management of the crisis in the Niger Delta.
SPECIFICALLY
THE OBJECTIVES ARE
1)
To asses the role of public relation in the management of the conflict in the
Niger Delta region.
2)
To investigate the cause of the crisis in the Niger Delta region.
3)
To identify the social responsibility of the multination companies in the area.
4)
To make an appraisal of public relation’s tolls used in the management of the
conflict in the Niger Delta
5)
To make recommendations that will bring solution to the conflict in the region
1.4
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The
following research questions were formulated by the researcher to serve as a
guide to the study:
1)
What role do public relations play in the management of the conflict in the
Niger Delta region?
2)
What are the causes of the conflict in the Niger Delta region?
3)
Do the government and oil companies have any social and development obligations
to the Niger Delta?
4)
What public relations tools are used in the management of the conflict in the
Niger Delta region?
5)
How can the conflict in the Niger Delta be reduced?
1.5
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The
following hypothesis were formulated to pilot the empirical investigation:
H0: public relations does not play a major role in the management of the
H0: public relations does not play a major role in the management of the
Conflict
in the Niger Delta.
H1:
public relations play a major role in the management of the
Conflict
in the Niger Delta.
H0:
Ecological degradation is not the major causes of the conflict between
The
Niger Delta and the multinational oil companies.
H1:
Ecological degradation is the major causes of the conflict between
The
Niger Delta and the multinational oil companies.
1.6
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The
study is relevant in the following directions:
1)
The study paints a vivid picture of the role of public relations in the
management of conflict. Those who hold management positions in both
private and public establishments are some of the beneficiaries of the study.
2)
The study show how neglect emanating from environmental degradation and
ecological problems can causes conflict in the Niger Delta. Environment
agencies therefore stand to benefit from the findings of the study
3)
The study as a veritable instrument of research material in the hands of
subsequent researcher carrying out a study on the major and sub-themes of the
study.
4)
Public relations practitioners and scholars will also benefit from study in
that it contains the management of conflicts using public relations tools
5)
Government and multi-national oil companies will as well benefit from the study
because it shows how planned development projects in the Niger Delta can reduce
conflicts between the host communities and the oil companies in one hand and
the government on the other.
6)
This study also contains suggestion that could reduce the degree of conflict
between the contestants in the Niger Delta.
1.7
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The
study is restricted to the role of public relations in the management of
conflict in the Niger Delta region between 1999 to 2005, using the Niger Delta
development commission (NDDC) as a case study.
1.8
LIMIATIONS OF THE STUDY
During
the research work many problems stemmed up in which some of them are:
FINANCIAL
CONSTRAINT: As a student there was not enough
capital to spend in transport and fact finding and borrowing of necessary
literature that would have helped in the writing of this research work.
TIME
CONSTRAINT: The time specified for the completion
and submission of the project is considered inadequate by the researcher.
ACADEMIC
WORK-LOAD: The study coincided with the period the
researcher was preparing for higher national diploma (HND) examinations.
MANAGEMENT
CONSTRAINT: The respondent oil not co-operate as was
expected. The staff were reluctant in answering some of he questions
asked.
All
this problems not withstanding the researcher still made a concerted effort in
giving the work a good attempt
1.9
DEFINITION OF TERMS
The
technical terms used in this study are defined here for proper understanding of
their meanings and applications in the study.
PUBLIC
RELATIONS: As used in this study means a
management function which helps to establish and maintain mutual line of
communication understanding and cooperation between the Niger Delta and the
government and the multi-national oil companies operates in the region.
TOOLS:
With particular
reference to their study means public opinion inter-personal.
Communication between the Niger Delta and the government as well as with the
oil companies. Tools includes propaganda advertising conference
periodical films and special events organized in the Niger Delta as a means of
information educating sensitizing and pleasing with the Niger Delta militant
groups to cooperate with the government.
CONFLICY:
Means disagreement
tussle violent demonstration among contestants.
It
also mans physical fighting killings thug grey pipeline vadalization
attacks on multi-national oil companies in the Niger Delta.
Conflict
also mans violent agitation against neglect and marginalization.
NIGER
DELTA: Means
the central southern part of Nigeria measuring 70,000 km forming the cruse oil
belt of Nigeria.
Nigeria
Delta includes Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Beyalsa Cross Rive, Delta, Edo Imo, Ondo and
River States.
NIGER
DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMSSION (NDDC)
A
commission set up by the federal government of Nigeria in 1999 for creating an
enabling environment for the development of the Nigeria Delta region
MANAGEMENT:
Conflict resolution
using public relations approach.
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