UNLOCKING THE PERENNIAL ETHNO-RELIGIOUS CRISIS IN NIGERIA: A MULTI- STAKEHOLDER IMPERATIVE

Nigeria is polarized along ethnic and religious lines with an explosive political environment that has created unprecedented levels of animosity among the various ethnic and religious groups. With the dysfunctional socio-economic and religio-political turn of events in Nigeria over the years, the collective conscience that formed the crux of Nigeria’s unity has been crushed to its lowest ebb, resulting in mistrust and hostilities. Consequently, Nigeria has known the type of bloodshed experienced from ethno-religious conflicts and violence, ethnic militias, political desperadoes and lynch mobs. It is against this background that the study betook itself to unlock the perennial ethno religious crisis in Nigeria, using a multi-stakeholder approach. The study is, therefore, framed around the following research question: what are the factors associated with the ethno-religious crisis in Nigeria, and how can this monster be addressed? The paper contends that lack of true fiscal federalism, marginalization, domination, poverty, unemployment, religious isolationism, and perceptions of injustice by communities and social groups, among others, are responsible for the deepening ethno-religious conflicts and violence in Nigeria. Accordingly, the study illustrates how stakeholders can harness collective efforts, shared responsibility, greater stakeholders’ engagement as well as rally political will to unlock the perennial ethno-religious crisis in the country. It concludes that inclusive governance based on equity, justice and fairness are core values Nigeria needs to apply to resolve many of her contemporary challenges.

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