Sustainable Supply Chain Practices Related to the Oil Servicing Firms Operating in the Downstream Sector of Nigeria

Abstract

This chapter investigates the contextual-based issues of sustainable supply chain practices related to the oil servicing firms operating in the downstream sector of Nigeria. The sustainable supply chain practices of oil servicing firms are significant to Nigerian economy as operating sector in oil and gas. The firms operating in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry render facilitative services to firms and agencies involved in crude oil exploration and production. However, the literature on sustainable supply chain practices is scarce and limited to contextual issues related to Nigeria, to fully explore this field; therefore, survey data were collected from key practitioners in the industry and analysed using descriptive statistics. The phrases "sustainability" and "environmental" are sometimes used interchangeably, and this is especially true in the context of the oil and gas business, where the negative effects of oil companies' operations are first and foremost environmental problems before they manifest as social and economic problems. The findings reveal that oil servicing firms rarely take into account the needs of sustainability practises when designing, producing, marketing, delivering, and supporting their normal products.  This study reveals several causes of the challenges bedevilling the supply chain sustainability in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.  As a result, this study identifies strategic initiatives that could support the supply chain practises of oil servicing firms operating in Nigeria's downstream oil and gas industry.