CONFLICT, CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND LESSONS FROM OMBI-EHAJE EARTH DAM IN UGBOJU DISTRICT, OTUKPO, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

The political structure called Nigeria has been bedeviled for a long time with intense competition among its constituent tribes for the control of resources. The sitting of developmental projects has often been a subject of controversy and conflict. This study was undertaken to illustrate the effectiveness of community based constructive interaction as unique technique of conflict management and conflict resolution in Nigeria. Critical literature was reviewed that points to the fact that some differences exists between conflict management and conflict resolution approaches. The role of conflict resolution in situations such as the Ombi-Ehaje dam case presents psychological tact of community based constructive interaction to change the perceptions of the parties that initially have incompatible goals to a goal compatibility achievement in a win- win outcome. Alternatively, the goals can be changed by making compromises. In this case study, the conflict was resolved by compromise in which both parties went for the second best solution, to avoid a lose-lose outcome