The study examined Nigeria’s Afro-centric foreign policy and regional stability in West Africa from 1999–2018. West Africa has been embroiled in unprecedented conflicts that threaten the peace and stability of the region. Thus, the manner and complexities of these crises call for a robust regional actor, such as Nigeria, to mediate in the resolution to ensure regional stability. To achieve the purpose of this study, research questions were advanced to determine the study's primary aim, which is to evaluate the impact of Nigeria’s Afro-centric foreign policy on regional stability in West Africa. Power theory is a theoretical framework for the study. The study is anchored on methods and uses secondary sources in data collection. The study shows that Nigeria's foreign policy has contributed to regional stability. Conscious of the fact that the pursuits of economic development can only be realized in a peaceful and stable region, Nigeria has shown an unwavering commitment to peace and stability, as seen in Liberia, Cote D’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and recently in the Gambia, where potentially destructive conflicts were successfully mediated and resolved. The study also found that Nigeria also stands to gain if her foreign policy is well-articulated and grounded in economic considerations, as economic benefits of regional integration will flow into Nigeria, which is undoubtedly the region's financial hub. The study recommends improving and continuing Afro-centric foreign policy, especially prioritizing the welfare of the Nigerian citizenry, amongst other things, through idealism.
See Full PDF See Full PDFDiplomacy 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.
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Nigeria’s foreign policy since independence is that of commitment to peace, security, territorial integrity and economic prosperity. It is committed to economic integration and sub-regional peace through ECOWAS which forms a building block for the integration and unity of Africa in general. Analysis of Nigerian foreign policy shows that her leaders operate within four concentric cycle of national interest, the inner most circle represent Nigeria’s own security, independence, and prosperity, and centered on its immediate neighbors: Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The second circle revolves around Nigeria’s relations with its West African neighbors. The third circle focus on continental African issues of peace development and democratization. The fourth circle involves Nigeria’s relation with organizations, institutions, and the states outside Africa. Therefore the main Objective of this research is to study the foreign policy under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s civilian administrati.
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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.
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The art of external intervention as a strategy for conflict resolution and crisis management has been prominent since the end of the Cold War period in West Africa. This article examines the nature and impact of Nigeria’s led interventions in the internal affairs of Liberia and Sierra Leone through the ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). Particularly, the article assessed Nigeria’s hegemonic role of ECOMOG and concludes with key lessons for the country’s intervention in West Africa. However, it recommends that Nigeria should be circumspective about how its gets involved in the internal affairs of other West African states, especially during crisis situations. It should also take cognizance of her domestic security challenges while trying to maintain peace in the sub-region. Policy makers and executors of Nigeria’s foreign policy should balance the country’s commitment to its external environment with her responsibility to the citizens and inhabitants for improved standard of.
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Zamfara Journal of Politics and Development | Vol. 3 No. 2, 2022 | Department of Political Science
The African continent has benefited immensely from Afrocentric nature of Nigerian foreign policy. This has invariably added to the reasons behind the successful transformation of Organization of African Unity (OAU) to African Union (AU). Having checked through the existing literature, it was observed that limited studies were found on Nigerian foreign policy's contribution towards the transformation of the continental organization in Africa. The study's findings have revealed the following attributes possessed by Nigerian foreign policy as one of the factors that aided the transformation of the continental organization in Africa. These attributes include: leadership role, economic-existing role, democratic-setting role, peace and security role, population factor, decolonization and anti-apartheid role. As part of the academic contribution of the study to the existing knowledge, the study indicated that Nigeria and its citizens tend to benefit more if its foreign policy tailors in such a way that would have a direct positive impact on Africa as a continent. Thus, the study concludes that Nigeria would have more influence in the continent particularly during decision making on Africa's matter, if she allows her fellow African countries to benefit from her favourable foreign policy. This study adopts functionalism theory to describe the possibility of mutual benefits when countries come together through functional cooperation to address common issues. This work is a qualitative study that utilizes both primary and secondary sources of data. Eight respondents were interviewed from different Nigerian government parastatals and higher institutions. The interview data was analyzed thematically with the aid of Nvivo-10.
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