May 2019
The Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN) Programme commissions an annual perception survey to track progress against the programme’s outcomes and impact in its three focal states: Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. The survey is conducted by an independent organisation. The first survey was conducted in 2017 and the second in 2018.
Improved confidence in conflict management institutions
In the latest survey performed in December 2018, respondents were asked if they were aware of conflict prevention / response mechanisms in their communities. Eighty-two (82%) of respondents across the three programme states said that they were aware of organisations / agencies providing those services (up from 67% in 2017). The respondents were then asked to judge the relevance, value and effectiveness of the conflict prevention / response mechanisms that they were aware were working in their communities.
Summary of findings:
- Over half the respondents (51%) think the mechanisms are very relevant, valuable and effective (significantly up from 36% in 2017).
- Fewer than one in ten respondents (9%) think they are not very or not at all relevant, valuable and effective (down from 19% in 2017).
- There was little difference between the views of men and women in 2018, but both show significant gains from 2017.
Improved confidence in the traditional justice sector
Participants were asked if they were aware of the traditional justice system in their community and the role of traditional rulers in resolving disputes. They were then asked how well they think these systems function.
Summary of findings:
- Respondents are mostly satisfied with the traditional ruler system: 47% say it works very well, 47% say it is satisfactory, just 5% dissatisfied - figures that are largely unchanged from 2017.
- 7% fewer men think the systems works well than a year ago, whereas 11% more women think it works well.
- There were much higher levels of satisfaction in rural areas compared to urban areas.
- 93% of those that knew of the role of traditional rulers said they would take a dispute to them if they needed to.
- Data for the three control states (combined) showed a decrease in those that think the system works well (from 72% in 2017 to 55% in 2018).
The survey demonstrated that MCN is contributing to improved confidence in the conflict prevention/response mechanisms and the traditional justice system in the programme’s target states. The results also demonstrate that there is a more positive recognition of the roles of traditional rulers in target states (when compared to other states).
'Over half of respondents believe that conflict management mechanisms are very relevant, valuable and effective...'
