POLLUTION CONTROL COSTS DISCLOSURE AND RETURN ON ASSETS OF LISTED OIL AND GAS COMPANIES IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The research examines the relationship between disclosure of pollution control costs and ROA in oil and gas industries in Rivers State, Nigeria. The stakeholder theory is used as a theoretical basis for the study. The study adopted an ex-post facto and correlation type of research designs. The study focuses on five oil and gas companies quoted in the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) in the year 2025. A total of sixty-five samples are analyzed based on thirteen years' data through census sampling technique. Secondary data is collected from published annual reports of these companies in the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Descriptive statistic, Augmented Dickey Fuller test, Hausman tests and regression methods for fixed and random effects are employed in this study. The result reveals that legal compliance cost has a significantly positive effect on the average total asset in these companies in Rivers State. Community development investment cost has a significantly positive effect on the average total asset in these companies in Rivers State. Waste management cost has positively affected the average total asset in these companies in Rivers State..