Conflict Management Mechanism in Contemporary Nigeria; Problems and Prospects

Abstract

The focus of this paper is to examine the conflicts management mechanisms in the present-day Nigeria, their impacts for resolving conflicts and good governance in the country. The paper adopts content analysis methods using secondary source of information from newspapers, books, journals and internet materials to discuss the major conflict issues in Nigeria. Literature on the subject matter were reviewed to analyze the issues on conflict management mechanisms in the country. This work was anchored by structural conflict theory as the theoretical framework due to its importance on conflict management. Findings revealed that the conflict management mechanism in contemporary Nigeria is at a low ebb in resolving the conflicts in the country. The paper observed that the conflicts management mechanisms in contemporary Nigeria are ineffective due to the bad leadership, corruption; ethno-religious factors, undemocratic practices, poor security system, and non-adherence to the tenets of the rule of law. As a consequence, peace, development and stability have been negatively affected resulting in backwardness in growth and development in Nigeria. The study recommends that good governance must be put in place to repair the entire systems and/or institutions in the country to ensure effective management of the conflicts in the country.       

KEYWORDS: Conflict, Conflict Management, Development, Good Governance, Good security