Public Relations Strategies for Managing Religious, Ethnic and Social Conflicts For the Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Development In Nigeria

Abstract

The rate of ethnic, religions, communal, social and political conflicts in Nigeria is unarguably very inimical not only to the unity of the Nigeria nation, but also to its socio-economic and political development. Foreigners are de-investing and running away to other countries, while foreign direct investment is running low. Today, there are fears whether the country’s unity and its fledgling democracy will survive, talkless of its avowed dream march into one of the developed nations of the world. This paper which is desk-research-based therefore delves into a critical appraisal of religious, ethnic and social conflicts in Nigeria, their effect on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow into the country and outflow from the country, and how the tide could be stemmed through effective public relations conflict resolution and crisis management strategies. The study objectives included: to determine the financial and economic implications of religious and ethnic crisis on foreign direct investment to Nigeria between 1980 – 2012 and to highlight the integrated public relations panacea for the problem. In the research methodology, secondary data were entirely used for the analysis. Results obtained indicate that foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Nigeria over the period under review have been adversely and significantly impacted by the problems. It is therefore recommended that integrated public relations strategies should be employed to dissuade the citizens from involving in religious, ethnic and social conflicts in order to reverse the negative economic trends.

Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Conflict, Economic Development