Corporate Social Responsibility and Petroleum Law: Evaluating Shell’s Compliance in Ogoniland

This study evaluates the corporate social responsibility (CSR) compliance of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Ogoniland, Rivers State, against applicable Nigerian legal standards and voluntary international guidelines. Despite Shell's withdrawal from active operations in Ogoniland since 1993, the company retains legal liability for environmental remediation, and its CSR commitments under various memoranda of understanding with affected communities remain contested. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research analyses UNEP's 2011 Ogoniland Assessment progress reports from 2021 to 2024, relevant court judgments, and interviews with five community representatives and two legal scholars. The study contextualises findings against the PIA 2021's provisions on host community obligations and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Findings indicate that CSR implementation has been piecemeal, legally non-binding, and inadequately monitored by the Nigerian government. The study recommends embedding legally enforceable CSR standards in operator licences and establishing an independent CSR monitoring commission. These findings are relevant to petroleum law students, corporate governance scholars, and environmental justice advocates. Keywords: CSR, Shell, Ogoniland, petroleum law, remediation compliance.