Impact of Environmental Sustainability Reporting on Community-Business Relations: A Study of Selected Oil Rich Communities in South - South Nigeria

The study sought to identify the impacts of environmental reporting variables peculiar to selected oil rich communities in South-South Nigeria and their impact on community ? business relations. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design which focused on the observation of a representative subset. The researcher administered questionnaire to a sample of 104 respondents representing various community/group leaders, opinion leaders and other stakeholders in 8 selected oil rich communities of South ?South Nigeria. The hypotheses were formulated in line with the research objectives and research questions. Accordingly the hypotheses were tested with Spearman correlation statistical tool via Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 17.0 version. The result of the research revealed that reported financial commitment of oil companies on environmental protection does impact significantly on community- business relations, and that environmental reporting is key in the sustainability of business organizations in exploration activities. The implication of this finding is that community- business relations will further be enhanced if business organizations especially the multinational oil companies operating in the South-South communities intensify actions that will improve their financial commitment on environmental protection, It is therefore the view of the researcher that the multinational oil companies in South- South communities in Nigeria should improve upon their financial commitments on environmental protection This among others will impact significantly and improve community- business relations which have degenerated over the years.