Application of Public Relations Tools in Crisis Management of Major International Oil Companies In Nigeria.
Vol.3 Issue 1
This study was on a critical analysis of the application of public relations tools in crisis management by major international oil companies in Nigeria. It was motivated by the dilemma of ceaseless clashes and crises involving international oil corporations and their host community public, which usually result in killings and shutdown of oil facilities, militancy, kidnapping of oil workers, vandalization of facilities, with the consequent loss in revenue generation by the country. The research aimed at exploring the various public relations crisis management tools used by the IOCs in Nigeria in dealing with their host community public; evaluate the effect of the PR crisis management tools the companies use to maintain a healthy relationship between the IOCs and their host community; as well as assess how the identified crisis management tools affect the corporate performance of IOCs. For the methodology opinion survey design of interviews was adopted in the study. A non-probability sampling method of purposive or judgmental sampling technique was used to arrive at the sample size. The data procured were analyzed qualitatively. Results indicate that: the international oil corporations operating in Nigeria, have a wide array of public relations tools and strategies for checkmating and managing crises and conflict with their host community publics. That the public relations crisis management tools employed by the IOCs do not have significant effect in maintaining mutual understanding between them and majority of their host community publics. That the public relations crisis management tools of the IOCs have contributed significantly to their corporate performance over the years. Based on this it was recommended among other things: The IOCs in Nigeria must do everything possible to win over and carry along the aggrieved youths by means of shrewd public relations crisis management strategies.
Keywords: Public relations, crisis management
