EXAMINING THE IMPLICATIONS OF RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION FOR ETHNORELIGIOUS CONFLICT IN JOS METROPOLIS PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined the implications of residential segregation for ethno-religious conflict in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. The violent ethno-religious conflict between the Hausa-Fulani settlers (Jasawa) and the indigenous tribes in Jos has lasted for over 2 decades, resulting in needless loss of lives, destruction of properties, and residential segregation along ethno-religious lines, with Muslims concentrating in the Jos North and Christians concentrating in the Jos South. In spite of the emerging residential segregation, the conflict continued unabated, particularly from 2001-2010 due to the unintended implications of the segregation. The purpose of this paper was to examine the implications of residential segregation for the ethno-religious conflict to address them to ensure peaceful coexistence among the residents in Jos. The paper adopted a survey design with a purposive sampling technique using a questionnaire and interview guide to collect data. The paper found that the major implications of residential segregation include severed intergroup relations, in-creased intensity of violence, poor social interaction, political exclusion, and skewed infrastructural development. The paper therefore recommended that the Governments should formulate urban planning policies to encourage inter-mixed settlements, ensure expeditious passage and implementation of the Bill on Citizenship Rights proposed by the National Assembly in 2022, set up a standing inter-faith committee for continuous interreligious dialogue and tolerance in Jos, set up standing intergroup peacebuilding committees for political inclusion and ensure even infrastructural development in Jos metropolis without preferential treatment of one group area over the other.