Spatial and Social Dimensions of Post Conflict Urban Reconstruction Programme in South Western Nigeria. Example from  Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Oluseyi O. FABIYI1, Olufunmilayo E. THONTTEH1, Paul BORISADE1 
1 Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Geographic Information System, Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys,  Ile-Ife, NIGERIA
E-mail: fabiyi@rectas.org, seyifabiyi@yahoo.com
Pages: 167-178

Abstract. Ife and Modakeke are contiguous, but linguistically homogenous communities in the South-Western part of Nigeria but were immersed in recurrent communal conflict since 1845. The age-long communal conflict was interjected by seven major wars including; 1845-1849, 1882-1909, 1946-1949, 1981, 1983, 1997 and 1998-2004. The study examined the nature and challenges of post conflict social and urban reconstructions in the two communities and advanced approaches for peace building in typical post war urban areas. It was observed that most of the physical reconstructions were carried out by the informal private sectors and neighbourhood cooperatives. Naturally cities grow at the peripheries, but the post war expansion in the two communities was more in the core and the transition zone as people move away from perceived volatile areas. Though the immediate cause of the war was addressed, there were no direct initiatives for social reconstruction or peace building in the two communities. The paper suggests that definite social reconstructions must follow communal conflict resolution.

K e y w o r d s:  post conflict reconstruction, communal clashes, peace building, urban rebuilding