Ethno-religious Conflicts and the Elusive Quest for National Identity in Nigeria

This article critically examines the elusive search for a true national identity in Nigeria amid persistent ethno-religious conflicts and violent attacks in Nigeria today. The central thesis of this article is that political mobilization drawn along politicized ethno-religious lines has precluded the emergence of a true national identity in Nigeria. The analysis is historically anchored and foregrounds colonial policies that blocked the processes of nation building in postindependence Nigeria. This article recommends creative and refreshing ways through which the rising tide of ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria can be stemmed in order to allow for the emergence of a true national identity.