Post covid-19 examination of socio-ethnic concerns in South-west, Nigeria

It is no longer a hearsay that Nigeria is going through multidimensional challenges threatening the peace of the nation. Nigeria has been enmeshed in all kinds of crises fueled by ethnic and religious bigotries. The Post COVID-19 assessment of the socio-ethnic concerns of this study revolves around some of the sociologically and ethnic challenges that the Southwestern States of Nigeria have got to deal with in the new normal. In the past, the diversity of ethnicity used to bea major source of strength and national identity but now becoming the source of many evils. The reasons are not far-fetched simply because it has been badly influenced, leading to intolerance and anomie. Even though efforts have been made to proffer solutions through various dialogues and state interventions; the impact of such measures has yielded little or no result even after the COVID-19 pandemic when the nation should be focusing on economic resuscitation, the issue of insecurity and ethnic conflicts are still part of the current challenges that Nigeria is facing. Hence, the need to examine the socio-ethnic concerns vis-à-vis the reasons they are still sources of worry in the post-COVID-19 period. This paper adopts historical and sociological approaches to achieve its objective. Findings show that the effect of the 1914 amalgamation, bad leadership, ethnic superiority, and biased legislation among others are the major factors responsible for these socio-ethnic concerns; particularly in the South- Western part of Nigeria. The study concludes that the practice of true federalism;and respect for the rights and cultures of other ethnic groups represented in the south western part of Nigeria would help in achieving the long-desired peaceful coexistence that will usher in national unity, peace, and development.