Nigeria Foreign Policy 1999-2019 a Critical Assessment
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the Study
This study seeks to achieve the following objectives:
- Provide a detailed background to Nigeria’s foreign policy from 1999 to 2019 focusing on his achievements and shortcomings;
- Examine the impact of Nigeria’s shuttle diplomacy in re-building Nigeria’s image as a regional power in Africa;
- Analyse Nigeria’s policy of partnership especially with the western powers and the implication of this partnership on Nigeria economic growth between 1999 and 2019;
- Discuss the contributions of Nigeria under the administration of Nigeria’s presidents to the security and peace-building in Africa; and lastly,
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Review of literature in historical research is sin qua non in determining the nature of the research as it provides the basis for the understanding of what other have said or written about the subject matter. It therefore becomes imperative to review what other scholars have written about Nigerian foreign policy since 1960 with special attention on President Olusegun Nigeria’s foreign policy from 1999 to 2019.
One of the most important works on Nigerian foreign policy is Ufot Bassey Inamete, Foreign policy decision-making in Nigeria, which examines Nigeria’s foreign policy decision-making system together with the other factors that shape and determine foreign policy. It gives the reader an understanding of the foreign-policy structures, processes, dynamics, and outputs in Nigeria. It also looks at how personalities affect foreign policy decision making in Nigeria. The reader also gains an understanding of how foreign-policy decision-making system impact on foreign-policy outputs in medium-sized countries. Although, no special attention was given to the administration of Nigeria’s presidents which is the major concern of this study, this work is of importance to this study as it discusses the issues of personality in the development of Nigerian foreign policy.
Bassey Ate’s Decolonization and Dependence: The Development of Nigeria-US Relations, 1960-1984 is a good contribution to the study. Despite the variations in the years, the work systematically analyses the development of the relationship between Nigeria and the US during the dynamic era of decolonization with special attention on General Olusegun Obasanjo first outing as head of state. This study serves as a basis for analyzing Nigeria’s stand on some key issues with the major world powers. Although, Bassey is not directly connected to the present study, it gives a vivid background on the historical past of the friendly Olusegun Obasanjo when he was the military head of state between 1976 and 1979 and how this later helped in running the affairs of Nigeria from 1999 to 2019.
CHAPTER THREE
MAJOR FOREIGN POLICY THRUSTS IN NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY IN THE FOURTH REPUBLIC SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY
Shuttle diplomacy is traceable to Henry Kissinger’s years as secretary of state in the United States of America, and this was based on his attempt at maintaining peace between Israel and the Arab states (Egypt and Syria) during the Yom Kippur war in the 1970s. Shuttle diplomacy according to Dauda & Bako (2012) refers to the discussions that occur between two or more states whereby an individual, usually a government official, travels to and from the countries involved either for the purposes of mediation, negotiation or partnership as the case may be. Abdul & Ibrahim (2013) note that President Obasanjo was renowned for his shuttles in a bid to forge bilateral and multilateral partnerships that sought to advance development within Nigeria and ensure the peaceful coexistence among states in West Africa. Also inherent in the goals of President Nigeria’s shuttle diplomacy were the restoration of Nigeria’s image from its position as a pariah state, and the securing of debt relief from the country’s creditors.
CHAPTER FOUR
DISCUSSION OF SOME UNRESOLVED ISSUES IN NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY DOMESTIC CHALLENGES
Given the fact that foreign policy is an offshoot of domestic public policy, a stable economic and political economy is crucial to the actualization of foreign policy in the international arena (Ukwuije, 2015). Since 1999, Nigeria has contended with multiple crises resulting from communal and religious-based violence, resource activism which has taken the form of militancy, and fluctuations in global oil prices, thus leading to political and economic instability (Abdul &Ibrahim, 2013, p. 40).
While Nigeria may have a large economy, it is riddled with serious economic crises stemming from huge dependence on exportation of primary goods, especially crude oil and importation of finished materials (Enuka & Ojukwu, 2016). Worthy of note is the role that corruption plays in the underdevelopment of the Nigerian state, ultimately countering foreign policy actions of the state. Awojobi (2014, p. 155), argues that funds allocated for the development of the country have been mismanaged by political office holders since 1999. Dividends of corruption are visible in the poor health and power sectors, constantly deteriorating road networks, and poor infrastructural development and non-functional refineries, to mention a few. Awojobi (2014, p. 155), argues further that “poverty is a by-product of insecurity. The security challenges that are facing Nigeria have been blamed on the high level of corruption and poverty in the country.”
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Conclusion
It is observable from the discussion in this paper that Nigeria’s foreign policy in the Fourth Republic experienced its zenith under President Obasanjo. Subsequent administrations could not equal the achievements of his administration. Thus, since his exit from power, Nigeria’s foreign policy has not been as assertive as it should be. The major foreign policy thrusts highlighted in the Fourth Republic could be seen as trial and error attempts. This is coupled with the fact that Nigeria’s foreign policy in the Fourth Republic bears convergence with that of the Second Republic, replete with inherent domestic issues bedeviling the successful implementation of foreign policy.
Some of the major unresolved issues in Nigeria’s foreign policy in the Fourth Republic that have been identified include: domestic challenges, Nigerians in diaspora, image crisis, and reciprocity. While these are not the only issues identifiable, this study chose to analyze these four in order to unravel the prospects for Nigeria’s foreign policy (once they can be tackled). Prior to the Fourth Republic, Nigeria remained a force in regional affairs because of its bold foreign policy stance and its ability to assert hegemonic influence over states within the region.
Arising from the lethargy witnessed after the President Obasanjo administration’s years to effectively manage the domestic situation, Nigeria plunged into issues like political instability, economic crises, civil unrests/terrorist activities, and sundry governance deficits. The adoption of the linkage approach to foreign policy analysis shed light on the fact that there are remedial measures that can be taken by the Nigerian government to review and restructure the foreign policy in such a manner that caters for contemporary issues. To this end, this study proffers the following recommendations.
Recommendations
- An urgent review of Nigeria’s foreign policy to capture the protection of the rights and the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad. Once Nigerians are satisfied, they can begin to serve as citizen diplomats and ambassadors of the country, projecting good values and a positive national image. There is a need to revisit and tinker with Section 19, Chapter 2 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as part of the issues requiring legislative (National Assembly) intervention to make it enforceable and justiciable.
- A more proactive and community-based approach to tackling national security should be This would require a reinvigoration of security apparatus and architecture for national security, provision of adequate training of personnel, and effective motivation.
- Nigeria needs to make huge investments in cybersecurity and electronic surveillance to enable the monitoring of activities of fraudulent individuals offline or online that have contributed in rupturing the image of Nigeria
- Nigeria’s foreign policy should reflect the reciprocity principle in the sustenance of the Afrocentric policy. If the policy is to be maintained, it needs to be carried out with recourse to achieving national interest on bilateral and multilateral platforms.
- There is a need for the current administration to be more pragmatic about tackling corruption in Nigerian public institutions. A high level of corruption stunts development within the country and consequently affects the country’s stature in international affairs.
- Nigeria’s foreign missions require adequate funding to cater to the needs of Nigerians in diaspora. They contribute significantly to the economic development of the country and their welfare should be a priority to the Nigerian
References
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- Adebajo, A. (2008). Hegemony on A Shoestring: Nigeria’s Post-Cold War Foreign Policy. In A. Adebajo, & A. Mustapha (ed.), Gulliver’s Troubles: Nigeria’s Foreign Policy After the Cold War. South Africa: University of Kwazulu-Natal Press, 1-40.
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