WEEK 3

NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

What is foreign policy? The foreign policy of a country is the totality of its political,
economic, technological, social etc. interactions and relations with the international community.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

1. Historical Linkage: Nigeria historical linkage with her former colonial master i.e Britain
can influence her foreign policy formation e.g. Commonwealth of Nations which
comprises the former colonies of Britain are relating very well in the international
community.

2. Geographical Location: One of the things that influence Nigeria’s foreign policy
formation is the location of Nigeria in Africa. Being a country located in Africa continent,
Nigeria has made Africa the centre piece of her foreign policy i.e. Nigeria foreign policy
is essentially centred on matters that affect the continent of Africa as a whole and
Nigeria has been fighting African case in the international community.

3. Quality of Nigeria Leadership: The ability of the leader to impose a forceful but
meaningful foreign policy, most especially dynamic, the visionary and conservative
leader.

4. Military Might: The strength of the Nigerian Armed forces coupled with its international
exposure especially during the war and in peace keeping force operation have made her
military a force to reckon with in the international community.

5. Economic factor: The economy of Nigeria plays a vital role in dictating her foreign policy
formation towards other countries in the international community e.g. Mineral resources
and Agricultural products.

6. Population and Human Resources: The size of population and the quality of human
resources of a country also go a long way to determine her foreign policy objectives.

7. Public Opinion, Political Parties and Pressure Groups: Nigerian government do consider
the opinions of her citizens when formulating the foreign policy objectives of the country.
Equally important are the roles played by the political parties and pressure groups. The
latter influences government foreign policies and where government proves adamant,
they can protest.

8. The membership of Nigeria in international organizations, such as the U.N.O., A.U.,

Commonwealth, etc can also influence her foreign policy.

9. The activities of multinational corporations and international financial institution such as

the World Bank and IMF can also determine Nigeria foreign policy.

10. The bipolarization of the world into two antagonistic ideological blocs namely, capitalist
and the socialist blocs.
 FEATURES OF NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY
(This can also be called Principles guiding Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives)

1. Total commitment to decolonization of African continent.

2. Belief in equality of all independent and sovereign states

3. Non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations of the world.

4. Non-alignment with any of the power blocs i.e. the West (capitalist) and the East
(socialist).

5. Africa as the centre piece of Nigeria’s foreign policy.

6. Promotion of international peace and security.

FORMATION OF NIGERIAN’S FOREIGN POLICY

In Nigeria, the formation of foreign policy in majorly the responsibility of the president
then, The president is to be assisted in the policy formation by the Ministry of External Affairs,
the Nigeria missions abroad i.e. diplomats and Embassies. Experts from the universities in
Nigeria are also included, members of the business world and also members of the Armed
Forces can be included in order to give advice on matters relating to defense.

NOTE: Consult Government textbooks for foreign policy decisions under the following
administration. Balewa, Gowon, Obasanjo/Murtala, Shagari, Buhari, Babangida
and Abacha.

AFRICA AS THE CENTRE – PIECE OF NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

The idea was a brain child of Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (in 1960 – 1966) where he
said that “Africa must and would claim first attention in Nigera’s external relations and pre-
occupation” Therefore, African as the centre piece of Nigeria’s foreign policy simply means
making African the focus of Nigeria’s foreign policy. It means that the foreign policy objective of
Nigeria will primarily base or centre on issues that affect African continent. It can also be said
that Africa will now become the primary area of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives while other
parts of the world will become secondary area. It can also be explained that Nigeria’s foreign
policy will change from being Pro-West to African continent. However, the successive leaders
in Nigeria supported the idea of Balewa e.g. Gowon formed ECOWAS, Obasanjo nationalized
British Petrol (BP) to African Petrol (A.P.).

MERITS OF AFRICA AS THE CENTRE –PIECE OF NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

1. The policy has earned Nigeria a leadership status or position in Africa, because every
country in Africa looks up to Nigeria for guidance.

2. Due to this policy, Nigeria has been regarded as the spokesman of the African states.
3. It has made Nigeria to be giant of African due to her economic advantages in terms of
natural and human resources e.g. Nigerian are working or doing business in all
countries in Africa, countries in Africa are buying Nigeria’s natural resources like
petroleum, gas and electricity (i.e. Foreign exchange).

4. It has earned Nigeria an influence on the African states. Nigeria has been able to
positively influence some lavish, expensive, unrealistic and utopian ideas raised by
some African leaders by rejecting such ideas e.g. the idea of establishing African High
Command raised by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1960 which was opposed by Nigeria
leader.

5. It has made Nigeria to be in the forefront as the official spokesperson of the black
countries all over the world e.g. principle of non-interference.

6. The policy has made Nigeria to be a mother country in resolving internal conflicts in
Africa.

DEMERITS OF AFRICA AS THE CENTRE-PIECE OF NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

1. The policy imposes heavy financial burden on Nigeria because making Africa her centre
piece involves huge spending.

2. Nigeria has lost many soldiers to peace keeping operations in Africa because she
supported freedom fighters and liberation movement.

3. It has taken good numbers of our reliable human resources to other African countries on
Technical Aid Corps Assignment.

4. The big brotherly role played in Africa by Nigeria is not acceptable to many world power;
they see it as obstruction to their interest in Africa. For this reason, Nigeria does not
enjoy the support of some of them.

5. Neo-colonialism also hindered Nigeria because, some of the African countries still tied
themselves with their former colonial masters for economic and political supports.

6. Many African countries see Nigeria as using her resources to dominate the affairs of
Africa. They jealously regarded Nigeria as neo-colonialism in disguise.

7. It allows influx of citizens of other African states to Nigeria for job opportunities.

8. Poor communication network among African countries affected the policy.

9. The big brother role played by Nigeria was not acceptable to most Nigerians e.g.
supplying electricity to Niger and Chad when the local supply or consumption is not
adequate.
 PRINCIPLES OF NON-INTERFERENCE IN AFRICAN AFFAIRS

1. Nigeria has been maintaining peaceful resolution of crises through negotiation and
mediation.

2. Nigeria played a significant role in the decolonization of African states.

3. Nigeria spearheaded the formation of ECOWAS on the 28th May, 1975 and the
ECOMOG which is the military wing of ECOWAS.

4. Nigeria established herself as the giant of Africa in the ways she tackles Africa’s
problem and also champions Africa’s case at the international level.

5. Africa has been the centre-piece of Nigeria’s foreign policy.

6. Nigeria has contributed greatly to the development of culture in Africa e.g. Festival of
Arts and Culture in 1977 (FESTAC ’77). The festival brought many blacks from all over
the world to Lagos.
 WEEK 4

NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT (NAM)

Non-alignment in this context can be defined as the policy of neutrality of a country or

group of countries to either the Western or Eastern bloc on any international issue due to the
cold war between them.

Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was formed by the Third World countries of Asia, Africa,
Latin America, Europe and Caribbean (i.e. countries at the region of the Western Atlantic
bounded by South America, central America and West Indies e.g. Cuba). The Western bloc i.e.
United State (America) is a capitalist and its military alliance is known as the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO), it was formed in 1949 while the Eastern bloc led by Russia is a
socialist its military alliance is known as the Warsaw Pact and it was formed in 1955.

The leaders that founded the movement were Joseph Tito of former Yugoslavia, Abdel
Nassen of Egypt, Kwame, Nkrumah of Ghana e.t.c. they met in Yugoslavia between 18th and
19th June in 1956 to discuss the action of the two super power (i.e. USA and USSR) in relation
to world peace and security. However, the movement was officially formed in September 1961
and Nigeria joined in July 1964 at the second summit held in Cairo.

Aims and objectives of NAM

1. To eliminate all vestiges of colonialism, neo-colonialism and all forms of imperialism in

the Third world countries.

2. To campaign against racism and all forms of discrimination on the basis of sex, colour,
religion e.t.c.

3. To support peaceful settlement of disputes among nations.

4. Campaign against the arms race and (Nuclear) weapon of mass destruction and to
support discernment.

5. Opposition to the division of the world into two antagonistic power blocs.

6. To protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states.

7. To make it possible for states to pursue their economic and political policies without any
interference from either of the blocs.

ACHIEVEMENTS / IMPACTS / SUCCESS OF N.A.M

1. It served as an effective opposition to the two power blocs in the world.

2. It helped member states to pursue their own political, economic and social development
without the interference of the super power.
3. It helped in promoting peace through its efforts to halt the arms race between the super
power and also the settlement of disputes.

4. The Non-Aligned members benefited from both blocs without being in alignment with
them.

5. There is promotion of unity and understanding among the member states.

6. It gave opportunity to the Third World countries to come together to discuss world affairs
and take beneficial decisions.

7. Its anti colonial drive has contributed to the independence of many countries of the
world.

8. It influenced the formation of O.A.U. on 25th of May 1963.

PROBLEMS OF N.A.M

1. It has no charter and organs, due to this; it has not enjoyed the respect it deserves.

2. It has no standing army and due to this it lacks instrument of coercion to compel
obedience.

3. Majority of the members are poor, so they depend on the East or West for foreign aid
and this affect their neutrality.

4. The members of NAM have different ideological orientation.

5. Unequal development among members of NAM creates an atmosphere of suspicions

and fear of domination of poorer ones by the richer members.

6. It does not have power or audacity to condemn the two super powers.