Coverage of Corruption in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry: A Comparative Content Analysis of Four National Dailies

This paper investigated the coverage of corruption in the oil and gas industry through a content analysis of four Nigerian newspapers (The Punch, Vanguard, Guardian and Nigerian Tribune). The paper adopted quantitative approach, in which quantitative data were collected and analyzed through content analysis of the selected newspapers. This paper revealed that 534 stories were published on corruption in the Nigerian oil and gas sector by all the newspapers within the study period (July 2018-June 2019), with the Punch having the highest magnitude of stories (n = 196, 36.70%) while Nigerian Tribune had the highest number of stories reported on its front and back pages (n = 143, 92.25%). However, Guardian had the highest number of full-paged stories (n = 15, 20%) whereas the Punch and Nigerian Tribune adopted the widest range of publication formats with news being the most dominant format employed by all the dailies (n = 462, 86.52%). In terms of tone of stories, Nigerian Tribune was the most neutral (n = 56, 39.44%). These suggest that the newspapers gave prominence to reportage of corruption, which implies that the selected newspapers are fulfilling their agenda-setting role and social responsibility to the public. It is anticipated that our findings will play a significant role in enhancing the function of Nigerian newspapers as agent of change.