Himalayan Economics and
Business Management
Open Access
Review Article
Abolishing Tribalism: A Consideration for Nigeria
Mahmood Omeiza Adeiza
Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
Abstract: Considering the nature of tribal sentiments across Nigeria, this paper was
*Corresponding Author designed to examine World Bank’s population estimates and projections for the years 2021
Mahmood Omeiza Adeiza and 2050 in relation to Nigeria’s present ethno-linguistic problems. The examination,
conducted by way of exploration using basic statistical techniques reveal a collection of
Article History consequences which if left unchecked may worsen insecurity challenges across Nigeria. The
Received: 10.05.2022 facts provide a basis to conclude that by the year 2050; 240,435,227 vulnerable Nigerians –
Accepted: 20.05.2022 of 29 years old or younger - must be saved from the effects of inadequate resources to
Published: 30.05.2022
provide their basic and essential needs. At least, governments at all levels must come
together to ensure that this set of Nigerians are detrabilized from birth by way of a national
Citations: policy permitting only inter-tribal marriages for the next 30 years.
Mahmood Omeiza Adeiza. (2022);
Abolishing Tribalism: A Consideration
for Nigeria. Hmlyan Jr Eco Bus Mgn; Keywords: Tribalism, Nigeria, Governments, National Policy, Inter-tribal.
3(3) 74-75
JEL Classification:
INTRODUCTION
Tribalism is coined from the word ‘tribes’, which refers to ethnic, linguistic or national groups that provide great
cultural diversity to a people (Oyedeji, 2017). In Nigeria, tribalism is perceived as a social phenomenon associated with
the identity of members of competing communal groups seeking to protect and advance their interest in a political system
(Adeyanju, 2014). While some see tribalism as natural (Clark, Liu, Winegard, & Ditto, 2019), or as a pragmatic
instrument for national unity (Azikiwe, 1964), others see it as an obstacle to national unity (Bascom W. R., 1962). In any
case, the assertion that tribalism in Nigeria is so fierce not because the tribes dislike each other but because of the
aggressive competition for scarce resources (Schwarz, 1966) makes it safe to say that tribalism is overrated in Nigeria
and the main feeder for the ugly ethnic intolerance now being witnessed.
Consequently, Nigeria seemingly heads for more ethnic crises as a result of growing tribal agitations for resource
control and power rotation, spelling the need for all levels of government to honestly consider abolishing tribalism. With
Nigeria’s population estimated at over 400 million by the end of December 2050 from a bit over half of this figure in
December of 2021, there are some parameters to consider. These parameters as sourced from the World Bank’s data bank
for population estimates and projections (see table hereafter) and are pointers to the consequences Nigeria may face
unless tribalism is abolished now.
Table 1: Comparable Population Parameters for Nigeria
2050 2021
Category % pop. Figures % pop. Figures
Total 100.00 401,315,000 100.00 211,400,000
Rural 30.08 120,704,000 47.25 99,895,000
Urban 69.92 280,611,000 52.75 111,505,000
Working Class 64.80 260,052,120 85.40 180,535,600
An examination of the table above, which represents a 29-year period starting December 2021 and ending December
2050, using simple statistical techniques such as ratios and percentages help decipher the facts that: within 29 years,
Nigeria’s population is expected to increase by 89.84%; though almost doubling the national population, with an increase
of over 20 million to the nations rural population, the ratio of 47 rural dwellers to 53 urban dwellers as at 2021 would
have dropped to 30 rural dwellers for every 70 urban dwellers by the year 2050; and as a result of this rural to urban drift,
the urban population is expected to increase by more than 151.66% due to a double impact of population growth and the
rural to urban drift.
74
Mahmood Omeiza Adeiza; IAR Jr Eco Bus Mgn; Vol-3, Iss- 3 (May-Jun, 2022): 74-75
In addition, the working class (which in Nigeria is dangerous trends considering that: in the wake of a
usually within the ages of 18 to 65 years) is expected to serious population explosion in Nigeria, characterized
shrink from 85.4% of the population in 2021 to 64.8% by rural to urban drift and a shrinking working class,
of the population by 2050 even though, the estimated there is much likelihood for Nigeria to witness less
population of the working class in figures should have production of basic or essential resources just as
increased by over 44% when comparing 2021 actual industries and government workforce are expected to
figures to 2050 projected figures. These are uneasy experience shrinkages.
consequences capable to plunging Nigeria into more
Table 2: Projected Mortality Rate per 1,000 population from 2022 to 2050
Year Population D/1,000 Year Population D/1,000 Year Population D/1,000
2021 211,400,000 2031 190,318,539 9.79 2041 173,573,467 8.741
2022 209,034,857 11.188 2032 188,480,443 9.658 2042 172,070,668 8.658
2023 206,736,728 10.994 2033 186,685,167 9.525 2043 170,595,162 8.575
2024 204,497,149 10.833 2034 184,926,966 9.418 2044 169,142,715 8.514
2025 202,314,755 10.672 2035 183,205,111 9.311 2045 167,712,952 8.453
2026 200,188,427 10.51 2036 181,518,891 9.204 2046 166,305,337 8.393
2027 198,116,677 10.349 2037 179,867,613 9.097 2047 164,919,681 8.332
2028 196,098,264 10.188 2038 178,250,604 8.99 2048 163,555,630 8.271
2029 194,126,496 10.055 2039 176,662,926 8.907 2049 162,209,077 8.233
2030 192,200,179 9.923 2040 175,104,052 8.824 2050 160,879,773 8.195
Another consideration is that with a projected Development Publication. Retrieved from Politics of
average mortality rate of 0.94% in Nigeria from 2022 to Ethnicity in Nigeria: The Way Forward:
2050 based on figures from macrotrends.net website, https://www.foresightfordevelopment.org/featured/eth
the number of persons expected to be alive by nicity-tribalism
December 2050 out of the December 2021 total 2. Azikiwe, N. (1964, May 15). Tribalism: A Pragmatic
population figure is estimated to be 160,879,773. This Instrument for National Unity. Tribalism: A
suggests that out of the projected 401,315,000 total Pragmatic Instrument for National Unity. (N.
population figure for December 2050, an estimated University of Nigeria, Compiler) Nsukka, Enugu,
Nigeria: Nigerian Political Science Association.
240,435,227 of them shall be 29 years of age or
Retrieved February 26, 2022, from
younger - a vulnerable age bracket requiring food,
https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-
security, shelter, education and health services. history/1964-nnamdi-azikiwe-tribalism-pragmatic-
Governments at all levels in Nigeria should realize that instrument-national-unity/
even without adequate resources to provide the needs 3. Bascom, W. R. (1962, July 1). Tribalism, Nationalism
for this army of young persons, a minimum requirement and Pan-Africanism. Tha ANNALS of the American
would be to ensure they are (at least) detrabilized Academy of Political and Social Science, 342(1), 21-
Nigerians. This can certainly ensure the avoidance of a 29. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/000271626234200104
repeat mismanagement of the nation’s population 4. Clark, C. J., Liu, B. S., Winegard, B. M., & Ditto, P.
growth which is presently connected to the insurgency H. (2019, August 20). Tribalism Is Human Nature.
witnessed in northern Nigeria and separatist agitations Current Directions in Psychological Science, 28(6),
in the southern Nigeria. 587-592. doi:10.1177/0963721419862289
5. Macrotrends. (n.d.). Nigeria Death Rate 2022-2050.
It is hereby suggested that a 30-year national policy Retrieved February 24, 2022, from macrotrends.net:
permitting only inter-tribal marriages could stem the https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/NGA/nigeria/d
increase in population of tribalistic Nigerians. By eath-rate
implication, every Nigerian intending marriage has to 6. Oyedeji, B. (2017). Managing Tribalism within
do so with a spouse from another tribe given the Nigeria’s Democratic Challenges. Modern Applied
number of tribes in hundreds. Conversely, any persons Science, 11(11), 49-59. doi:10.5539/mas.v11n11p49
7. Schwarz, W. (1966, November). Tribalism and
who feel they can not marry outside their tribes are to
Politics in Nigeria. The World Today, 22(11), 460-
be considered as the very persons who must not be
467. Retrieved February 26, 2022, from
allowed to birth another generation of tribalistic https://www.jstor.org/stable/40393799
Nigerians. 8. World Bank. (n.d.). World Bank: IBRD - IDA. (World
Bank Group) Retrieved February 26, 2022, from
REFERENCES Population Estimates and Projections:
1. Adeyanju, C. G. (2014). Politics of Ethnicity in https://databank.worldbank.org/source/population-
Nigeria: The Way Forward. Foresight for estimates-and-projections#
75
