Nigeria's polarization is manufactured, not inevitable - OSPRE chief
Nigeria's polarization stems from institutions that make identity a currency for opportunity, not inherent hatred, says Chris Ngwodo of OSPRE in a Premium Times editorial yesterday. The Africa Polling Institute's 2026 survey shows Social Cohesion Index rose to 48.8% from 46.8% in 2025, with a majority now identifying as Nigerians first and 77% willing to cooperate across ethnic groups.
This matters because economic adversity fuels communal solidarity as people seek protection when legitimate opportunities are scarce. Political entrepreneurs exploit this insecurity, offering ethnic/religious substitutes for effective governance. With another electoral season approaching, polarisation has assumed topical significance again, but Nigeria's survival through civil war and crises proves coexistence is possible.
Combatting polarisation requires more than unity exhortations. It demands sustained double-digit economic growth, investments in education/employment/social protection, enforceable equal citizenship guarantees, civic education interrogating inherited prejudices, and restoring security to highways. The future remains ours to shape through intelligent policymaking and empathetic leadership - will you support policies that build shared prosperity over communal preference?