EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNAL CONFLICT MEDIATION IN THE NORTH CENTRAL GEOPOLITICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Conflict situations are endemic in the African continent, and Nigeria is not an exception. Plagued with different types of conflicts that ranged from political to ethnic, religious, and communal, the country and different advocacy groups and INGOs have worked in synergy and separately to ensure peaceful coexistence. In respect of the foregoing, this study was conducted to assess the communication strategies adopted by government in the North Central geopolitical zone toward conflict mediation in the region. The researchers relied on a survey research design using questionnaires distributed to 594 respondents. The study recorded a 94.6% response rate, and findings showed government to have used different strategies for communal mediation. Some of the strategies identified are community relations, traditional institutions approach, public relations, peacebuilding communication, media relations, and religious organisation approach, among others. It also demonstrated a high level of use of communication in conflict mediation while showing that the use of strategies has led to reduced tensions and peaceful coexistence among others. The researchers concluded that communication strategies are effective means to mediate in conflict and recommend their continuous use in similar situations.