NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Since Independence in 1960 certain specific imperative have governed the conceptualization and the conduct of Nigerian Foreign Policy.  The method of approach and its implementation may differ depending on the circumstance of the time, and style of leadership, but the real substance of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy objectives have tended to revolve around those principles which the country hold tenaciously in the conduct of its foreign relations.

2.     Historically, Nigeria’s foreign policy has been influenced and guided by a commitment of five broad principles.  Generally speaking, the basic foreign policy objectives of all sovereign independent nations, including Nigeria place emphasis on the following priorities.

1. Self preservation
2. National Security through enhanced extra territorial strategic arrangement
3. Economic prosperity
4. Defence of national honour and maintenance of peace and security.

There are therefore, five principles guiding Nigeria’s foreign policy.  The first is the conscious and deliberate rejection of any formal military or political alliance with any of the hitherto two contending ideological powers, one led by the United States of America and the other by the defunct Soviet Union.  In effect, a policy of non-alignment became one of the cardinal points in the conduct of Nigeria’s foreign policy.

        The second principle was Nigeria’s commitment to the concept of legal equality of all States, irrespective of their size or capability.  The commitment was justified not simply in terms of the fear of under-developed countries like Nigeria being left at the periphery in the conduct of world affairs, but also principally to allay the fears of small Africa States of being side-lined in the conduct of world affairs and to encourage greater cooperation at the regional and sub-regional levels in Africa.
        The third principle is that of non-interference in the internal or domestic affairs of other nation states.

        The fourth principle that influences and still guides Nigeria’s foreign policy is a total commitment to multi-lateral diplomacy as expressed by Nigeria’s active involvement in various international Organizations.  Nigeria is a member of the United Nations Organization (UNO), the African Union (AU), Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), African Petroleum Producers Association (APPA) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nigeria also has relative influence in all these international Organizations. 

        In conclusion Nigeria’s foreign policy has been a commitment to Africa and Pan Africanism.  On this context, all successive Nigerian governments have sought, among other things, to promote not only the Unity of all African States but also the total political, economic, social and cultural liberation of Africa and Africans in the diaspora.