Intergration in community relations: water shortage and social conflict in Akungba-Akoko

Abstract

This paper examines the form/patterns of social conflict generated as a result of water shortage in Akungba-Akoko of Ondo State; precipitating factors for water shortage and social conflict; effects of water shortage and social conflict on residents, and the conflict management style employed. Using both primary and secondary data, the paper reveals the following forms of social conflict: student-student, students-indigenes, and indigene-indigene conflicts with incidence greater in ‘students-indigenes\' conflict. The pattern of conflict includes physical violence, use of charms, verbal assault, etc. The topography of the environment; few boreholes/wells; lack of pipe-borne water; lack of maintenance of boreholes; increase in population; and lack of projection for the future constitute reasons responsible for water shortage. On the other hand, disrupting queue; giving preference to friends to fetch water at the expense of others; fetching more than two buckets at a time; changing small buckets for bigger buckets on queue; ‘stealing\' water, and time factor are causes of social conflict. The effects of water shortage gave rise to the development of coping strategies as well as social conflict, which also had socio-economic implications on students and indigenes. The paper summarizes the conflict management style employed by parties involved in the disputes and concluded by suggesting policy options.

African Journal for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Vol. 8(2) 2005: 306-326