The Nigerian market: fuelling conflict or contributing to peace.

The informality of Nigeria's agricultural produce trade has the potential to promote both cooperation and conflict. The food marketing chains are complex networks extending across the country, and often involve diverse ethnic, religious and social groups. Nonetheless, there is potential for a range of trade-related issues to lead to conflict and for extra-trade tensions related to broader structural issues to spill over and erupt in trade contexts. However, market interactions and trading relationships may also facilitate reconciliation because disputing groups need to work together to secure their individual livelihoods. Moreover, market spaces are important potential mediation spaces precisely because they bring conflict related groups together, especially in boundary regions. Particular individuals - including women traders - may act as crucial "connectors" in this respect, linking diverse ethnic and other interest groups