The Conflict potential of religious division in Nigeria

Abstract

The paper presents a complex picture of Nigerian society. Of the five factors that fuel conflict in Nigeria, the paper emphasises the religious divide. Nevertheless, the religious divide is not observed in isolation but in the context of other factors that provoke conflicts. These factors are ethnic division and economic factors, i.e., poverty. The paper analyses the ways in which religion influences conflict and seeks to delve into the complex web of Christian and Islamic identities in Nigeria. The change in the political pattern that took place in the presidential elections in March 2023 and the process of introducing Sharia law that began in the early 2000s were identified as challenges of particular importance. Finally, the paper presents communication channels and conflict-resolution methods.

Keywords

• nigeria
• islam
• christianity
• sharia law