A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF NIGERIA’S AFROCENTRIC FOREIGN POLICY (1979 – 1989)

A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF NIGERIA’S AFROCENTRIC FOREIGN POLICY (1979 – 1989)

ABSTRACT

Nigeria’s foreign policy is said to be Africa centred. This is the focus of this study – tho examination of the degree of Afro-centricism in the Nigerian foreign policy (1979 – 1989).

This study attempts to prove that because Nigeria has boen so much pro-West in her external relations, it has not boon able to pursue a viable and dynamic Afro-centric foreign policy. This has been done by looking at some vital foreign policy issues of tho respective regimes from 1979 – 1969.

The findings indicate that all the administrations studied have been too pro-west and as such could not achieve much on the African front. The economy, that is, trade and commerce have been monopolised by multinational corporations from the Western nations, the U.S.A Britain, etc.

I have however pointed out that the Buhari administration has tried to break this monopoly which has consequently been percievd as a threat by the U.S.A, and Britain. I also concluded that of tho regimes studied, his fared better.

I also identified the reasons why we have not boon able to pursue a viable, dynamic African centred foreign policy. These include the nature of Nigeria’s dependent economy which suffers from among other things, the extension of excessive credit to private sector, heavy dependence on oil sector as

the main source of foreign exchange earnings and government revenue, heavy external debt burden, tying tho country’o economy to .those of Western nations, and a consumption and production pattern that lacks domestic resource base.

All these economic ills have been traced to be the effects of the total integration of the Nigerian economy into international capital accumulation and concentration which has been made possible by the material incorporation of the various factions of tho Nigerian ruling elites into foreign business as shareholders or agents. The ruling soldiers or civilians therefore, have a perception of opportunity in their relations ,with the U.S.A. and Britain. Western nations are perceived no’t as threats but as friends and big brothers. They are not perceived as imperialists. Because of this, Nigeria’s foreign policy is rather pro-West instead of being African centred;

In conclusion, a recommendation was made as to how the Nigerian foreign policy could be made more viable and

dynamic with a view of achieving its Afro-centric stance with a framework for better foreign policy.

Title Page———i

Certification——–ii

Dedication———iii

Acknowledgement——-iv

Abstract ———vi

Table of Content——–vii

 

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction ——-1

1.1 Statement of Problem——4

1.2 Purpose of the Study——5

1.3 Significance of Study——8

1.4 Limitation——–9

1.5 Scope of Study——-11

 

Chapter Two

2.0 Review of Related Literature —-12

2.6 Summary of Literature Review—- 19

 

Chapter Three

3.0 Research Methodology and Procedure—22

3.1 Population ——–22

3.2 Sample and Sampling Technique—-22

3.3 Validation of the Instrument —-23

3.4 Reliability of the Instrument —–23

3.5 Data Analysis——-23

 

Chapter Four

4.0 Presentation and Discussion of Result—24

4.1 Analysis and interpretation of Data—25

4.2 Discussion of Results——38

 

Chapter Five

5.0. Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendation  –40

5.1 Summary——–40

5.2 Conclusion——–41

5.3 Recommendation——42

References ———45

Appendix 1——–47

Appendix ———50

A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF NIGERIA’S AFROCENTRIC FOREIGN POLICY (1979 – 1989)

 

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