Abstract
One of the key objectives of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is to forge a harmonious relationship between corporations and society. But with the spate of youth restiveness and militancy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria it is not clear that the CSR activities of multinational corporations (MNCs) in the region have yielded the desired effect. This study, therefore, set out to explore the effect of the corporate social responsibility activities of MNCs on the development of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Primary data were collected from a total of three hundred and seventy six (376) respondents judgmentally drawn from four states in the region. Data generated were analyzed using the multiple regression model. Interview method was also used. Findings showed that the multinational corporations operating in the Niger Delta region actually carried out some CSR activities and that those activities contributed to the development of the region. However, residents interviewed felt that the massive environmental pollution caused by the operations of the MNCs in the region had practically eclipsed the CSR activities of the multinational corporations. It is recommended that the MNCs should show greater sensitivity to environmental issues and, in particular, adopt international best practices in their oil exploration and production activities in the region.