ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the use of public relations by the Nigerian government and Shell Oil in the Niger Delta in the aftermath of citizen protests against that company in the 1990s. Public relations history in Nigeria is generally viewed through the narrow lens of the history of information management and the opening of public relations departments by some multinational corporations (MNC) in Nigeria. The Nigerian Railway Corporation was another organization whose public relations activities influenced public relations practice in Nigeria. The Nigeria economy is reliant almost exclusively on gas and oil, which are largely produced in the Niger Delta region of the country. The Niger Delta suffers from environmental degradation, which is brought about by the exploration activities of oil companies such as Shell. The Cluster Development Board (CDB) functioned as the main supervisory and administrative organ, ensuring implementation of projects and setting out plans and programs.