Challenges of Muslim-Christian Relations in Nigeria

Abstract

This chapter interrogates the challenges of Muslim-Christian relations in Nigeria. It begins by suggesting that despite rather positive Muslim-Christian relations in Nigeria through most of history, the situation has deteriorated since the early 1980s. Interfaith conflicts became frequent occurrences, especially in the heterogeneous states in Northern Nigeria. These tensions were significantly fueled by the polarization of the communities into Christians versus Muslims, Northern versus Southern, settler versus indigene, dominant versus marginalized, and rich versus poor. The chapter examines these challenges, but only after discussing the history of the more positive encounters between Christianity and Islam. The religions certainly have no problem with one another; it is their adherents who are the problem.