A Critical Evaluation of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy at 53

2013

Since becoming a sovereign nation in 1960, the nation called Nigeria had engaged herself with the world on a weak foreign policy that had saw the nation part away with a huge chuck of her human and economic resources without having something tangible to show for her huge diplomatic generosity. This has become worrisome to scholars, and stakeholders within the nation-space. To some, Nigeria only operates a father xmas style of foreign policy which had someway contributed to the economic misery of the nation. In light of the above, the article set-out to investigate certain issues in Nigeria foreign policy statement. To this end, the paper focuses on issues such as national interest which drives the nation’s foreign policy coupled with the continuities as well as the flaws associated with Nigeria policy of external relations since attainment of independence. The paper argues that Nigeria should embark on a reform of her foreign policy as a matter of urgency as what obtains presently c...

This study evaluated the principles of Nigeria's foreign policy since 1960. These principles include: Non-alignment; Equality of all States; Non-interference in the domestic affairs of other states, Multilateralism and Afrocentrism. The methodology of the study was based on secondary sources of data collection. Data obtained from textbooks, journals, articles, news papers and other online materials were analyzed by descriptive method, while the theory of Manifest Destiny was adopted. The findings showed that while these principles have helped in shaping Nigeria's relations with the outside world over the years, there are inconsistencies in their application; additionally some of them do not reflect the trend and current realities locally and internationally. For instance, Nigeria professed non-alignment during the cold war era but was committed to the Western led bloc with respect to issues in Africa and beyond. Also the principle of afrocentrism has been adopted to the detriment www.ichekejournal.com Nigeria Foreign Policy Principles since 1960 2 of her very own citizens. Till date, Nigeria has continued to bear the burdens of Africa without commensurate rewards whereas the majority of her citizens experience, on a daily basis, poverty, diseases, hunger, starvations and deaths. In view of this, the study recommends a holistic review of Nigeria's foreign policy principles to be in line with the current realities at the domestic and international levels. In addition attention should be given to those areas of foreign engagements that will boost the economic fortune of the country; instead of focusing on Africa, Nigeria should place more emphasis on the welfare of its citizens as it is often said, "Charity begins at home".

Diplomacy is generally equated with the business of handling a porcupine without disturbing the quills. All war represents a failure of diplomacy. Foreign policy, like diplomacy, is a disguised war, in which states and non-state actors seek to gain by barter, diplomacy and intrigues, by the cleverness of arts, the objectives which they would have to gain more clumsily by means of war. In the advanced democracies, diplomacy is used as a handmaiden of foreign policy. Thus while foreign policy of a state is said to be the substance of foreign relations, diplomacy is the process by which foreign policy is carried out. Nation-states and even continents of the world do not exist in complete isolation from each other. The nation-states which are the main units of continents have to carry on some of their activities in the world environment. Thus they do not only come into contact with each other on their continent, but they also interact with nation-states in other continents. This worldwide interaction takes place in what is called international system. For this interaction to be realized, states are the key actors in this worldwide relation. There is the need for nation-states to conduct their policies diplomatically in order to avoid conflict and absorb those other actors provided they do not jeopardize their own interest. This idea of live and let’s live which involves the formulation, marketing and pursuit of policies by states in the international arena brings about foreign policy. Generally, therefore, the concept of foreign policy suggests the right of a particular sovereign nation-state to deal and conduct foreign affairs relations with foreign powers. And usually, the actions a country takes in its relationship with other countries in the international system are motivated and moderated by certain compelling variables which are inextricably linked and inevitably influenced by the domestic situation. This paper therefore examines Nigeria’s Afro-centric Policy as a major determinant of Nigerian foreign policy with a view to refocusing our foreign policy thrust, and attaching more premiums to our sense of national interest and pride which must necessarily anchor towards socio-economic development of the nation and the upliftment of the citizen’s standard of living.

The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies, 2020

The attempt to go chronological has robbed Nigeria's foreign policy sufficient analytical depth. Nigeria's foreign policy has been narrative as most scholars tend to give historical description of foreign policy events. Such approach has not allowed for in-depth analysis and detection of fundamental defects. This paper examines the process of Nigeria's foreign policy formulation from the structuralist defects teasing out major challenges which affect the emergence of a foreign policy that is strategic. This paper employs the system approach to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of a one-off analysis of Nigeria's foreign policy to the extent that all issues raised can be applied to discourse of Nigeria's foreign policy at all time. The paper concludes that to surmount its challenges, Nigeria's foreign policy needs to establish a coordinate between its goals and the means to achieve them to attain a focused, structured and strategic foreign policy.

AFRREV IJAH: An International Journal of Arts and Humanities, 2016

Nigeria's foreign policy like those of every other elsewhere, is hoped to achieve for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians, the aspired goals and articulated interests of the Nigerian state. This expectation, by the judgment of many informed Nigerians, is yet to be fully realized. Nigeria's foreign policy inter alia, has failed to work out the transformation of Nigeria's status and Nigerians' lives from where it is, to where it should be. What possibly could answer for this foreign policy failure? In response to the puzzle, this paper excurses into the mixed and myriad challenges that have vexed Nigeria's foreign policy from the formative years of her foreign policy formulation and implementation to the present. The finding is that the persistence of these challenges due to neglect, bad and irresponsible leadership is debilitating to Nigeria's foreign policy output and has made foreign policy performance leave much to be desired. The paper concludes with a number of recommended suggestions as a panacea to the identified teething challenges.

Nigerian foreign policy thrust commenced in 1960 after the attainment of political sovereignty from Britain. Africa was projected as the centrepiece of Nigeria's external decisions. Every successive administration continued to emphasize and expand the principles of Nigeria's Foreign Policy decisions on Africa. Besides afrocentricism, the foreign policy served the interest of Mr President, ruling and business elites, and the ordinary citizens abroad. The previous governments showed little or no concern about the welfare of her citizens abroad. However, in 2007, the Nigerian government adopted citizen's diplomacy as her foreign policy thrust, whose aim was geared toward mobilizing the support of Nigerians at home and diaspora to develop the country economically and politically. Though, Citizen's diplomacy was misconstrued initially. The misrepresentation was anchored on the fact Nigeria has abandoned her traditional approach foreign policy thrust (afrocentricism) to Nigeria's citizens at home and diaspora. However, citizen diplomacy underscores the protection of Nigeria's image and integrity at home and abroad. At present, President Buhari's administration's foreign policy drive focused on Nigerians at diaspora as never before. Therefore, the paper aimed at examining the changing nature of Nigeria's foreign policy thrust; and its beneficiaries. The paper adopted a Concentric Circles model as its analytical construct. The paper recommends amongst others that Nigerian government should design robust economic programmes that are geared towards improving and enhancing economic development predicated on creating employment opportunities, encouraging local production, curbing corruption and supporting the industrial infrastructure.

This paper expresses the continuity and discontinuities in the Nigerian foreign policy from 1960. After a peaceful transition from colonial rule, Nigeria evolved into an independent state that controlled her own affairs both domestically and internationally. In order to relate with the outside she developed a set of principles and objectives to guide such official relations. However, it has not been always smooth, as the Nigerian foreign policy experienced some ups and downs. This paper analysis the extent to which the different eras of her foreign policy was successful and unsuccessful

2019

This paper discusses the Nigerian foreign policy in the West African sub-region and the attendant challenges. It focuses on the nature of this policy which is basically Afrocentric. The paper as a result dwelt on the idealism of the policy itself as some scholars posit in terms of the relations between Nigeria and these countries in the sub-region. The paper adopts the descriptive research from library instruments and findings show that, issues involved are quite pervasive and problematic to the effective projection of the country's foreign policy in the sub-region. The examination of these issues, some of which are traceable to the country's domestic economic and political setting have become pertinent in order to reduce the seeming misunderstanding and mistrust of Nigeria's noble and progressive gesture towards her fellow African neighbors. The paper concludes that Nigerian foreign policy even in the West African Sub-region has been influenced by its African focus. This scenario inevitably conferred on the country, the status of a sub-regional leader in all ramifications. The paper recommends that the Nigerian authorities must regard and treat its West Africa neighbour as strategic. This has become important as it can be harnessed as a verifiable market for the country's goods and services to the reduction of outside rivals.

African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research , 2018

Nigeria's Afrocentric foreign policy in a globalized world x-rays the country's external projections in this context from independence to date. This phenomenon is quite consistent a pattern from the 1960 to present albeit some slight modifications. In view of its continuous relevance, this paper attempt to examine the basic issues involved. To this end, a conceptual clarification of the term foreign policy was discussed. Relative to this are issues that were examined within the context of a globalized world. Flowing from this analysis is the perception of Nigeria as a national leader in Africa, hence the presentation of its various dimensions. Conclusion was accordingly drawn and recommendations proffered for a clearer appreciation by the relevant authorities, policy makers and students to enable a more progressive realization of the country's national interest in the international arena, especially in relation to its African focus.

GLOBAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED, MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, 2017

This paper looks at the fundamental problems of Nigeria’s External Relations, with special emphasis on her historical experience of colonialism. It tried to establish a link between the Nigeria’s colonial experience and the challenges encountered over the years in her foreign policy articulation and implementation. Using the ‘Dependency Theory’, the paper identified ‘’The colonial experience’; Structural imbalance in Nigeria’s federal system and the Afro-centric philosophy of Nigerian leaders as the fundamental problems of Nigeria’s foreign policy. The paper argues that alongside the colonial experience which tied Nigeria’s economy to the Western capitalist economy, the inherited structural imbalance in Nigeria exacerbated ethnicity and hampered national cohesion thereby affecting Nigeria’s foreign policy negatively. Also, the paper highlighted the fact that Nigeria has spent more than she has gotten from her Afro-centric foreign policy posture. The paper therefore concludes that re...

Journal of Techno Social of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 2021

Abstract: Nigeria’s afrocentric foreign policy has in no small measure benefited African continent. This has assisted Nigeria tremendously to have played a leading role towards ensuring peace, stability, cooperation and development in the African continent. The study examines the hullabaloos surrounding the too generous and committed nature of Nigerian foreign policy which has canvassed for varieties of opinions on the need for the country to adjust her foreign policy objectives. The study indicates that if there is need for Nigeria to adjust her foreign policy objectives towards Africa, it should be more favourable and not the other way round due to numerous unforeseen benefits. The study adopts role theory to describe the position and responsibility shouldered by Nigeria in Africa. As against the position opined by antagonists on the amendment of Nigerian foreign policy’s objectives, the theory explains that some benefits are either tangible or intangible forms. This study is qualitative that adopts both primary and secondary sources of data. Twelve (12) respondents were interviewed from various Nigerian government parastatals and higher institutions of learning. Data gotten from the interview was analysed thematically with the aid of Nvivo. The secondary data source was through books, journal articles, newspapers and policy documents. Keywords: Nigeria, foreign policy, afrocentric, Africa, benefits

International Journal in Managemen t and Social Science, 2017

The nature and policy orientation of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy under President Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007) deals with the measurement of Nigeria State or nation at the time. Nigeria is a regional power with gaining sense of self-assurance and a developing capability to demonstrate it. This research principally attempts to underscore through historical, descriptive and comparative analysis, low strategies for perceiving Nigeria’s foreign policies were configured in managing political economy of Nigeria’s administration of Chief Olusegun Obasoanjo (1999-2007). There is an abundance of evidence to show that internal policies constitute the key to Nigeria’s foreign policy. The research reveals that the era of the second coming of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as Nigerian president between 1999 and 2007 did not witness the inauguration and implementation of a dynamic and people-oriented foreign policy dedicated to the realization of Nigeria’s national interests. It was also established as a fact that international politics is the true personification of power politics and also the veritable consummation of aligment to ones national interests. This research therefore, among other things recommended that the country Nigeria must no longer operate in such a way as to be seen as anybody’s good boy as such a posture is symptomatic of weakness and servility. But ensure that the national interest always take precedence to morality in international politics.

This paper assesses Nigeria's foreign policy in retrospect and analyzes the major unresolved issues that now exist as challenges to foreign policy in the Fourth Republic (1999-2017). As an evaluative study with reliance on secondary data, the study adopts the linkage approach as the theoretical framework which highlights the crucial impact of the interplay between the domestic and external environments on Nigeria's foreign policy. The content analysis of data guided the findings, discussions and recommendations of the paper. Findings reveal an urgent need for restrategizing and re-formulation of Nigeria's foreign policy to capture the internal and external dynamics of the Nigerian state, in order to maintain respect and relevance in the international system.

The interplay of colonization and attainment of independence as a critical element of interstate relations in the contemporary international system has manifested in the nature and character of the relationship between African states (as former colonies) with other members of the global system particularly their former colonial masters. The Nigerian experience in terms of membership, status and activities within the international system, which largely typifies the African story, can be better understood and appreciated in that context. The 1960-1975 period remains a very critical phase in Nigerian history as an emergent African state given that, it was in the period that the first two regimes (civilian and military) ruled the country and provided the foundational architecture of governance upon which successive regimes built. It is against this backdrop that this article explores the Nigerian membership of the international system between 1960 and 1975. Adopting the analytical method of historical reconstruction as a valuable perspective for its discussion, the study is qualitative as it depends moderately on primary source materials, and largely on secondary source materials. The study found that some of the foreign policy decisions of the two regimes were not sufficiently well-thought out particularly in an atmosphere of international power rivalry, which represented a wide gate of multilateralism. Such decisions eventually ended as abysmal strategic failure, which has, for a long time, haunted the Nigeria's drive for improved status and increased influence on, and prestige in, the international system. 1. Introduction It is commonly acknowledged that an understanding of the past is fundamental to effective management and workings of the present. The analysis and interpretation of history provides an essential context of evaluating and appreciating contemporary configuration of institutions, cultures, political systems and economies among others. Beyond this, history also provides unique insights into human nature and human civilization; helps us develop a sense of context and coherence while recognizing complexity and ambiguity, thus enabling us confront the records of both human achievements and failures. In essence, history provides us with richly textured substantive framework for understanding the human condition and grappling with moral questions and problems. In view of the foregoing, this paper examines the working of Nigerian diplomacy and implementation of its foreign policy between 1960 and 1975. This period is a deliberate choice to cover two distinct regimes (civilian and military) that laid the foundation for contemporary (independent) Nigerian State. Also, each of the regimes represented the longest in the two divides of civilian and military regimes in Nigerian political history 1 before 1999, and most of the nuances of internal and international pressures affecting the direction of Nigerian diplomacy and foreign policy were set during the period of study. The Ironsi regime (January-July 1966) was, more or less a brief interlude that did not record any major achievements/failures different from what preceded it. Thus, it commands no serious consideration here beyond a cursory mention. Since 1999, Nigeria has been at a democratic juncture of its history when its foreign policy has had to respond to some democratic forces of different interests usually of sectarian nature as manifest in ethno-religious persuasions. Internal dynamics as well as reaction to external situations are usually the determinants of any country's (including Nigeria's) foreign policy. This study is, therefore, an attempt to understand the present working and position of Nigerian diplomacy and foreign policy through the eyes of its history under the first two major regimes. Osuntokun has aptly justified this in his argument that " Foreign policy cannot be considered in a vacuum without taking into consideration the historical genesis and development on the country ". 2 Hence, the contemporary realities of Nigerian external relations in terms of state behaviour, failings and successes can be understood in the context of the historical foundation offered by the two successive regimes in Nigeria between 1960 and 1975. The provision of that understanding is the chief objective of this study. In addition to this brief introduction, some terms used in the study are defined. The foreign policy implication of attainment of independence is also discussed as a background platform for the study, while the aims and objectives of Nigeria's foreign policy as articulated in 1960 are also outlined. The study proceeds to discuss the country's international relations under the two regimes. It concludes with an analysis of the period of study in the history of Nigeria's foreign policy and international relations, as well as suggestions for improving the Nigerian status in the contemporary international space.