Nigeria’s foreign policy has evolved and advanced since independence in the post-colonial era. The country’s foreign policy has been affected by the different people who have come as leaders for the country, but its key commitments have remained unchanged since its independence (Ebegbulem, 2019). Therefore, different forms of leadership have used the same objectives for foreign policy but used different strategies and instruments to achieve them. It is then based on the key objective of African success and unity, which is to be committed to ensuring that it is a leader and key player in fostering unity and peace in the African region. Nigeria is advocating for peace and stability in the African continent. This is evidenced by the role the country has played in ensuring the end of the apartheid regime in South Africa (Lawal, 2020). This was based on its advocacy for independence for other countries in Africa after it gained its independence. This was a diversion from the British foreign policy, which was available in the colonial period, where it was based on achieving British affairs and their interests. However, the post-colonial era saw the transformation of foreign policy to cater to Nigeria’s affairs and interests (Ebegbulem, 2019). However, even though this policy seems to be purelyNigerian and independent from the influence of other countries, it has been seen to be mostly inclined towards the West(Ebegbulem, 2019). This is where Nigeria has supported countries like the US in their interests and ideology, as seen in history during the 1962 Berlin crisis and nuclear weapons test in America coupled with the Vietnam War and other instances while being hostile to the Soviet Union.
A notable developer of Nigeria’s foreign policy was Tafawa Balewa, who was the country’s prime minister as of 1960, and the leader provided the broad principles on which the country would abide (Jemirade, 2020). The prime minister indicated that Nigeria would pursue personal interests and world peace, and it would be neutral and not align with other powers. The foreignpolicy was also based on respect for the sovereignty of other nations and ensuring that the country would cooperate and collaborate with other parties (Jemirade, 2020). The policy outlined that the country would not be aggressive and interferewith the operations of other countries, but it would contribute to the removal of colonial powers in Africa. Nigeria would uphold democracy and ensure cooperation and integration in Africa(Jemirade, 2020). The country has since then aligned itself with like-minded bodies such as the United Nations Organization (UNO), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Commonwealth of Nations (Ebegbulem, 2019). The policies provided by Nigeria are, therefore, embedded in the African agenda. The country’s push for prosperity, peace, and sovereignty was a key aspect that led her to commit to funding and upholding the affairs of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) (Ebegbulem, 2019).
After the 1966 coup, the country fell into a civil war, which was a result of various actors (Ebegbulem, 2019). However, some critics have indicated that the root of the issue was based on itsover-concentration of the West rather than boosting economic integration and moving out of colonization (Ebegbulem, 2019). During this period, the country was more concerned about the unity and sovereignty of the nation. This also changed its objectives and alignments, moving on to the following objectives aligned with the East rather than the West due to the latter’s refusal to support the nation during the civil war. However, this has changed in the past, especially in the case of non-alignment, where the country’s foreign policy outlines its neutrality on paper. Still, in actions, critics indicate that Nigeria has aligned itself with different powers and ideologies from Western and Eastern blocs in the past (Fayomi et al., 2015; Jemirade, 2020). For instance, the Murtala-Obasanjo regime was more aligned with the Eastern ideology. Also, Shagari and Babangida changed this, and the country became more aligned with the Western bloc, which encouraged Western investments in the country.
At the same time, alignment has been witnessed in the leadership of Abacha, where the ruler moved to the Middle East. Also, in the age of globalization, it is hard for a country to indicate that it does not align its policies with those of others due to rising interdependencies (Jemirade, 2020; Fayomi et al., 2015). The development of the country’s foreign policy is then a function of internal and external factors. The major internal factor that has driven the direction of Nigeria’s foreign policy is oil, which motivated its commitment to the decolonization of other countries (Ebegbulem, 2019). This was evidenced during the 1970s oil boom in the country, which effectively supported its economy and stance in foreign politics. However, its decline in the recent past has reduced such impact and influence(Ebegbulem, 2019). Also, the form of leadership has been instrumental in determining the form of policies that have been adopted. This is where the ruler’s backgrounds, ideologies, privileges, prejudices, relations, and other personal attributes have been central in determining the types of policies the country is upholding (Ebegbulem, 2019).
In the external setting, the country’s foreign policy has been a function of its colonial heritage, and most countries choose such a policy that is aligned with this heritage. In the case of Nigeria, this is aligned with Britain and its Western allies (Ebegbulem, 2019; Lawal, 2020). The development of the country’s foreignpolicy and its effective progression has been affected by various issues. For instance, there is a lack of professionalism, and the country is deficient in the right skills and funding, which is making it hard to have an effective and resilient policy (Lawal, 2020). Also, there have been lower budget allocations for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and gaining funding for its operations is hard. This is coupled with the fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lacks coordination and collaboration with other domestic operations and ministries, including the legislative function in the government (Lawal, 2020). This includes ineffective communication, where some urgent communications have gone unanswered by the legislative part of the government. At the same time, the country has been key in supporting other nations by offering troops and finances in times of crisis (Ebegbulem, 2019; Lawal, 2020). Also, different instabilities and civil wars have not made it easy for the country to establish its foreign policy effectively. Economic issues with the decline of the oil boom have also made it hard for the country to have power and assert its influence in global and African issues (Lawal, 2020; Ebegbulem, 2019). According to Abiola (2023), the country needs to get out of its way and ensure the performance of its economy while also ensuring that the next plans should marry domestic and international plans and align such objectives to ensure the performance of their national and foreign operations.
Security concerns and conflict in Nigeria
There have been various security concerns in the region which stem from internal and external factors. Key among them is the threat posed by Boko Haram, a Jihadist militant group with ties to internationally recognized terror organizations. The president admitted that the country is facing issues when trying to stop the operations of this group, which emerged from the North-East(Tanko, 2021; Ifeoma et al., 2015). This group is taking advantage of the region’s poverty and security shortcomings in these areas, and it has operated in various parts of the country, especially in Northern Nigeria (Tanko, 2021). This has led to the deaths of thousands of people and also many abductions, kidnappings, and assaults. The group has even controlled key parts of the economy, such as Chad Basin’s fishing market, and imposed taxes on farm produce in the regions that it controls(Tanko, 2021). Also, the region is facing the threat of another group called Islamic State’s West Africa Province, which is becoming larger than Boko Haram and is most active in the Western Africa region. These groups leverage the securityshortcomings of the country, especially in the northern parts, where they can conduct their operations without fear of being caught and the law being practiced effectively on them (Tanko, 2021).
Also, other security issues are witnessed in the conflict between herders and farmers, which have been conflicting in terms of resources to use for many years. These conflicts have also led to killings and abductions of various people in the affected regions, where the perpetrators have also led to ransoms (Yagboyaju and Akinola, 2019). This has led to clashes with the central government and an inability to uphold peace in these regions. Banditry is also an issue that has led to the kidnappings of thousands of students in 2022, where these persons have led to the kidnapping of 1,000 students from schools (Tanko, 2021). Ithas led to the destruction of property, the migration of peoplefrom the affected regions, and the closure of schools. This has had an impact on farming, trade, and education, and it has even been a challenge for the country’s military to mitigate (Tanko, 2021; Yagboyaju and Akinola, 2019). Also, conflict is evident with the rise of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), which is a separatist state that wants to have a different leadership of the South-East states where they want it to be made of people from the Igbo group and be independent (Onu et al., 2022). Coupled with this are clashes in the oil-producing states in the Niger Delta, where militants in these regions are advocating and pushing for a bigger share of the profits (Yagboyaju and Akinola, 2019; Onu et al., 2022). This is based on their assertionthat the companies operating in the region lead to high destruction of the region, and this has been having a negative impact on the local communities. They have turned this destructive and a threat with kidnappings of oil workers and alsolaunching attacks on security personnel in the region (Tanko, 2021).
These actions have led to a rise in humanitarian crises with high rates of displacement in the affected regions. Also, it has had negative impacts on the economy, where activities such as Boko Haram control states in the South East have led to massive economic impacts on the country and the destruction of the livelihoods of many Nigerians (Tanko, 2021). Also, this has extended to the Nigerian security and police, where they have also been implicated in different cases of human rights violations, which has led to the erosion of public trust(Yagboyaju and Akinola, 2019). These security challenges have also made it hard for the country to respond to foreign relations and policies. According to Ebegbulem (2019) the impact on the country’s economy has directly affected its foreign policy. This is where it does not have the same pull and impact in the global operations. Also, this is limiting its ability to effectively concentrate on international relations while engulfed in many internal issues. However, the Nigerian government has tried to resolve this by diplomacy and military operations in the affected areas. Also, it has involved international and external parties in trying to resolve many conflicts (Asiegbu and Oluwajobi, 2023). However, this has been marred with various issues such as poor coordination of operations, corruption in the state agencies, lack of resources and funding, and politicization of security forces(Asiegbu and Oluwajobi, 2023). This has made it hard for the country to have effective operations to promote peace and effective international relations.
Conclusion
Nigeria established a foreign policy after its independence. The foreign policy adopted by the government is based on various principles that have directed its operations with changes in the instruments and tools used to uphold the same. These commitments have aided in partially adhering to variousrelations in the global setting. However, they have been impacted by internal and external factors where they have directed the type of policies that have been developed and also acted as barriers to the provision and establishment of different relations. The country’s policies have, however, been largely affected by internal factors such as security and conflict. Variousgroups have negatively affected the security of the region, and they have limited the internal and external relations of Nigeria and its economy. These insecurities have ensured that it is hard for the country to participate effectively in global efforts for peace and prosperity. This research, therefore, provides clarity on the evolution and progression of Nigeria’s foreign policy and the key guiding principles and determinants of the policy. Also, it concentrates on key internal issues that affect internal and external operations, such as security and conflict in the region. These issues show the complex nature of international relations and the multifaceted issues that impact the operations of the country, with security being a central barrier. However, further research is required to determine the interplay with other factors in the external setting and the influence of external parties on the development and performance of foreign policies in the region.
Written By Chimsom Ifeanyi Chidera
Public Relations Officer