SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Nigeria, being multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious, is a very complex nation that has witnessed notable challenges in respect of peaceful co-existence amongst its diverse population for many years. This continues to have adverse impact on the situation of security, unity and socioeconomic development in Nigeria, despite the country's national motto of "Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress". Although, Nigeria is often perceived as a "secular state", its people are incredibly religious and openly identify with their respective religious persuasions on both private and public matters without apologies. In recent times, the shortfall of peace, security and socioeconomic development in Nigeria has been a matter of consistent debate in the country, with different positions advanced on how best to improve the situation. It is argued that, as Islam is the largest religious denomination in Nigeria, with not less that fifty per cent of the Nigerian population being Muslim (CIA World Factbook) whose lives are apparently influenced by Islamic tenets, exploring and advocating relevant Islamic precepts on peaceful coexistence, security and socioeconomic development should have a positive persuasive impact, at least on the Muslim population, in addressing the problem. The chapter identifies relevant Islamic normative precepts and provides insights on the obligations of both leaders and ordinary citizens towards the realisation of peaceful coexistence, security and socioeconomic development in Nigeria. The chapter aims at creating a moral and religious reawakening for Nigerians generally, and the Nigerian Muslim population in particular, towards promoting "unity and faith, peace and progress" in the country as envisaged by the nation's motto. It contextualises peace, security and socioeconomic development within Islamic jurisprudence, identifying that the challenge of peaceful coexistence in Nigeria is underpinned by four main factors, namely: religious bigotry, ethnic/tribal bigotry, political bigotry, and the anguish of ignorance and poverty, which provides foot soldiers for each of those three bigotries. The chapter then goes on to proffer relevant Islamic precepts for addressing each of those factors from both moral and legal perspectives.