A Paradox Theory of Sustainability Tensions in Supply Chain Management: Evidence from the Nigerian Petroleum and Agricultural Sectors

This dissertation applies paradox theory to develop an original theoretical framework for understanding and managing sustainability tensions in supply chain management, with empirical evidence generated from the Nigerian petroleum distribution and agricultural commodity sectors. Supply chain sustainability requires simultaneous pursuit of economic efficiency, social equity, and environmental protection objectives that are fundamentally in tension with each other in the Nigerian context, where economic survival pressures are intense, social inclusion is systemically constrained, and environmental governance is weakly enforced. Existing sustainability frameworks treat these tensions as manageable through trade-off optimisation, but paradox theory proposes that they are irresolvable and must be managed through acceptance and organisational ambidexterity. Drawing on paradox theory, stakeholder theory, and the triple bottom line framework, the dissertation develops an original Supply Chain Sustainability Paradox Model proposing four paradox types: performing, learning, organising, and belonging, as they manifest in Nigerian supply chain management contexts. Using an abductive mixed-methods design, qualitative case study analysis of 8 organisations in both sectors, combined with quantitative survey data from 180 supply chain managers, enables both theory generation and partial empirical verification. Qualitative paradox mapping, thematic analysis, and moderated regression analysis are applied. Original theoretical contributions include the Supply Chain Sustainability Paradox Model, the Contextual Paradox Amplification construct, and a novel measurement instrument for sustainability tension management capability. Findings challenge trade-off optimisation approaches dominant in Nigerian supply chain sustainability practice. Keywords: paradox theory, sustainability tensions, supply chain management, petroleum sector, agricultural sector.