Civil Society in the shadows of Nigeria’s Core Conflicts The Impact of CSO Engagement in the Farmers/Herders Conflict – Mr Oseloka H. OBAZE Introduction Certainly, the Farmers/Herders Conflict(FHC) continues to dominate our political landscape. I wish to also thank Dr Paul Andrew Gwaza, for doing the heavy lifting by presenting an illuminating paper. I wish to preface my comments with the observation that the platform, modalities and terms of reference by which Nigerian CSOs operate are consistent and in tandem with international best practices. What is problematic and perhaps not-so-consistent, is the attitude of the national authorities to CSOs and the stultifying environment in which CSOs operate. This is perhaps why there was an attempt to muzzle CSOs by introducing unprecedented legislative fiats. However, the role of the CSOs in addressing Nigerian conflicts reminds me of an old cliché:“It’s better to have it an d not need it; than to need it and not have it.” I am glad we have CSOs operating in Nigeria, regardless of what is perceived as their collective shortcomings. Synoptically, Gwaza’s paper“analysed the possible entry points for civil society in the ravaging farmer-herder conflict, bearing in mind its animative and transformative character.” The paper also highlighted how the conflict has become intractable and widespread due to infiltration by insurgents, bandits and criminal groups, and its impact in communities across Nigeria. The paper Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Nigeria| 229