Ethnicity does not by itself produce conflict but the subjective interpretation of it does. This interpretation implies that one group feels ethnocentric towards others; that is, it sees other groups as relatively inferior and more or less as rivals. This feeling brings about certain attitudes, which distort reality and breed subjectivity in the evaluation and perception of events. Nigeria is bedeviled by ethnic cleavages and inter-ethnic fears and tensions which may affect its nation- building efforts. This study therefore, attempted to examine how ethnicity has affected nation-building using Nigeria as a reference point. It was revealed that nation-building has been a difficult  and delicate task due to the presence of some seemingly irreconcilable differences that were toxigenic to nationhood but having survived a civil war and some major crises, Nigeria can no longer be regarded as a mere geographical expression but a country. Consequently, it is recommended that efforts at nation-building should be sustained especially in the area of making the federal arrangement more equitable.

KEY WORDS: Ethnicity, Ethnocentric, Nation-building, conflicts, Nigeria