Experts insist ethnic, religious divides may worsen insecurity, poverty in Nigeria 

The current socio-economic challenges and rising insecurity may persist unless the country finds a solution to the worsening to ethnic and religious divisions.

Experts at an event in Abuja on, with the theme “A Way to Mitigate Ethnic Tension, Re-examining the Ability of Ethnic Federalism to Reduce Group Grievances in Nigeria,” insisted that the country must find a way to ensure that all ethnic groups and religious bodies have a say in administering the country.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) and the Africa School of Economics (ASE) the experts, stressed the need for peaceful co-existence, adding that unless there’s social justice and a federal system that’s inclusive, economic development may remain a mirage in the country. 

The experts, which included, Narrelle Gilchrist of Princeton University, Country Director of Care, Hussaini Abdu, Director, Good Governance Team, Tunde Selma and Partner, Nextier Group, Dr. Ndubuisi Nwokolo, said while Nigeria has good legal framework and ideas that promote exclusivity, there’s the need to strengthen and implement ways that can address grievances.

Gilchrist who noted the multiple nature of ethnic groups in Nigeria makes the country a key case of ethnic federalism.

Admitting success in the way Nigeria has managed its ethnic differences, she called mechanism that would further strengthen the move across the country.

Gilchrist said: “Looking at this single system of ethnic federalism can illustrate why decentralisation of power might stem some ethnic conflicts while failing to stop others, because of its context specific design and enforcement.

“In my cross-national regression results, I find that ethnic federalism on average does have a mitigating impact on conflict, but the effect is conditional on groups’ having reduced grievances under decentralization. In my study of Nigeria.”

Salman linked the problem in the country to colonial era, nothing that there were unresolved issues on identity.