Abstract: Mining oil sands is an extensive production process that has a major impact on surrounding communities and the environment. The renewed efforts at exploiting Nigerian oil sands have again raised questions about the potential challenges posed particularly to especially host communities. International best practices suggest that prior and informed consent should be obtained but there is limited mention of first considering the typical attribute of the potential host communities. In order to elucidate an understanding of community structure, this study examines the geography and characteristics of potential oil sands communities in Nigeria. Based on a case study in an area with the largest Bitumen block, the study addresses historical, social, economic and geographic factors capable of motivating or discouraging the most promising path to oil sands extraction and community relations. While remote communities are homogeneous and are over-shadowed by development processes and displacement risks, towns are heterogeneous with diverse economic activities ready to host large-scale oil sands projects. This study concludes that paying greater attention to the basic knowledge of community characteristics in resource development may help in creating dialogue and avoiding conflict with the host communities.