Fifty Years of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy: A Critical Review
Gerald EZIRIM, Ph.D.
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Abstract
Nigeria is already in her 50th year as an independent nation, and has been involved in all types of government and leadership in the past half a century. Being a milestone in the life of the country, a review of her foreign policy within the period is germane. There seems to be a debate as to whether Nigeria’s foreign policy has been consistent over the decades or whether it has been changing. The popular argument in the literature is that it has been very consistent. Employing the decision-making theory for analytical purposes, this paper notes that although there has been a relatively consistent foreign policy thrust that has characteristically been pro-African, yet there have been changes as leaders come and go, and as they tend to impose their personalities in the attainment of foreign policy objectives of the Nigerian State. This portends a lot of inconsistencies. This paper thus examines the effect of changes in leadership on the overall framework and direction of Nigeria’s foreign policy. The paper finally recommends the actions that Nigeria needs now to forestall the downward spiral in her foreign relations and development.
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