Public Administration, Security, Peace and Policy: Leveraging On Conflict Resolution and Management in Bekwarra Local Government Area in Cross River State, Nigeria

This study examined public administration, security, peace and policy, with particular emphasis on conflict resolution and management in Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The study was guided by three objectives, which were to examine the relationship between public administration and conflict resolution, determine the influence of security mechanisms on peace management, and assess the contribution of public policies to sustainable conflict management in the study area. Three research questions guided the investigation. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The study population comprised community members, traditional leaders, security personnel, public administrators and other relevant stakeholders in Bekwarra Local Government Area. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection, while descriptive survey/statistics and chi-square (χ2) were employed to analyse the data at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings indicated that effective public administration was significantly associated with improved conflict-resolution practices. The results also showed that responsive security mechanisms, community participation and collaboration among traditional institutions and formal security agencies contributed significantly to peace management. Furthermore, the study revealed a significant association between effective public policies and sustainable conflict-management outcomes. The findings were discussed in relation to the importance of accountable governance, preventive security interventions, community engagement and policy responsiveness in addressing local conflicts. The study recommends that, government should strengthen inclusive local governance and conflict-resolution institutions; enhance collaboration and information-sharing among security agencies, traditional authorities and community organisations; and formulate and implement context-specific peace and security policies that address underlying socioeconomic grievances and promote community resilience.