Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1700 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2855 (Online) Vol.5, No.5, 2014 173 Social Conflicts and Public Private Partnership (PPP) Inertia In Nigeria: X-Ray Of Social Marketing And Conflict Resolutions’ Antidote Robert Anuforo, Department of Marketing, College of Management Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike – Nigeria. Email: bobanuforo@gmail.com Ben. E. Odigbo, Ph.D Department of Marketing, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. Email: bodigbo@yahoo.com Georgina Edeoga, Director, Centre for Gender and Child Development, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike – 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. Thus, arguments are rife that this trend is adversely affecting the upward drive of public private partnership initiatives in the country, notwithstanding that in its economic policy thrust, the Nigerian government has made public private partnership (PPP) a cardinal base for the achievement of the much needed economic upstart for the nation. But observers are critical that if nothing is done to checkmate the spates of bombings by the Boko Haram sect and other intractable conflicts and crises across the country, that might turn out another pipe dream. This paper examined the correlation between the social conflicts and PPP growth rate in the country, and the efficacy of social marketing and conflict resolution tools as antidote. Survey design was used and area of study was three commercial nerve centres in Nigeria: Lagos, Aba and PortHarcourt. Keywords: Social conflicts, public private partnership (PPP), public relations, social marketing, conflict resolution. 1. Background to the Study Over the years, ethnic, religions, communal, social and political conflicts have been threatening the fragile unity of the Nigeria nation. This problem was heightened after the 2011 general elections with what came to be known as Boko Haram bombings and killings of hundreds of innocent citizens here and there, especially the North-East and North-West parts of the country (Amadi, 2011; Njoku, 2011; Osai, 2011). Recent in the history of such attacks include the killing of at least 59 children at a boarding school, Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Yobe. The students were targeted as they slept in a dormitory, according to reports (ABCnews, 2014; Theguardian, 2014; Channelnews, 2014, Globalpost, 2014; BBCnews, 2014). All these according to some social commentators could be having negative effects on rate of foreign direct investment into the country (Ugwuanyi and Odigbo, 2012) and also pose great hindrances to a successful public private partnership (PPP) in Nigeria. Is it not when brothers agree that they can partner, and is it not when brothers partner among themselves that outsiders (foreign investors) would want to partner with them, they asked? Since after the 2011 general election, arson, wanton destruction of lives and property have been unleashed sporadically on the police, public, churches, innocent people and even the international community which the United Nation’s building bombing in Abuja on Friday, 26 August 2011 in which at least 21 were killed and many wounded typifies (Plaut, 2011; New York Times, 2011; Reutersnews, 2011; CBSnews, 2011). Boko Haram a group alleged to be fighting for the imposition of Sharia law on the Nigerian federation claimed responsibility (Kakah, 2011; Mark, 2011). Apart from Boko Haram, the Niger Delta crisis is yet another social conflict that has adversely affected the nation’s economy that depends largely on oil revenues over the past twenty years. It has also stultified both foreign investments (Etemike, 2012; Ugwuanyi and Odigbo, 2012), and public private partnership. Okonta and Douglas (2001:2) observed that it started due to tensions between the foreign oil corporations and some Niger- Delta minority ethnic groups who felt they were being unjustly exploited, because despite the vast wealth from petroleum, the benefits have been slow to trickle down to the majority of the population. The people also claim that their agricultural lands and aquatic culture have been taken away from them and largely destroyed by oil