Overview Of Nigeria's Foreign Policy Since Independence

Since independence Nigeria's foreign policy has been
characterized by a focus on Africa and  by attachment to several  fundamental principles.
These are "African Unity and independence; peaceful  settlement of disputes; non alignment
and non intentional interference in the internal affairs of other nations; and the regional economic
cooperation  and development.
Nigeria hoped to achieve the above objective through her membership of and participation in the
Organization of African Unity now African Union,(AU)  the Economic Community  of  West
African States(ECOWAS), the United Nations Organization (UNO), the Commonwealth of
Nations  and non-aligned Movement.
Several issues have dominated Nigerian Foreign Policy across various government since independence
in 1960 with each government having distinctive priorities and style. 
During the Tafewa balewa's administration between 1960 and 1965, Nigeria's foreign policy was
 centered on non-alignment, even though she maintained a special relationship with Britain
and other western countries. Her economic relationship was more with the west as she maintained
an unfriendly attitude with the Eastern bloc countries represented by the Soviet and China.                         
The government laid emphasis on maintenance of regional and international peace and security, and
respect for sovereign equality.
This is a factor that motivated her active role in the establishment of the Organization of African Unity
(OAU) now African Union(AU). After the military coup of 1966 that saw the collapse of the first
republic, critics argued  that the government was too pro-west and ignored to lay a strong framework
for decolonization and integration.
There was a distinct break in Nigeria's foreign policy during the civil war of 1967-1970 as the primary
concern of the government was to preserve the unity of the country. After the civil war, the country
reassessed her relationship with both eastern and western bloc countries. she maintained a more pro-east
and less pro-West stance considering the support given to her by the Soviet Union after the west
refused to provide arms to the country during the civil war. At the same time, Africa  remained the
center-piece of the country's foreign policy as attention was focused on the liberation of Southern
Africa, the integration of  ECOWAS, and the need for complete economic independence throughout
Africa. The establishment of the Economic Community of  West  African States(ECOWAS) was one of
the great achievements of Nigeria in regional policy.
During the period between 1976 and 1979, Nigeria's foreign policy was reviewed. The country pursued
an independent and non-alignment foreign policy dictated neither by the east nor the west. This was a
result of pressure from  Britain that Nigeria should follow the diplomatic vogue and adopt a policy on
non-alignment.
Another factor that influenced Nigeria to review her foreign policy and adopt the policy of
non-alignment was the non-aligned movement itself. Small and weak nations saw the goals and
potentialities of the movement so attractive. Such goals as military disengagement, freedom from
entangling alliances, peace in a polarized world, security of members and reductions of level of conflicts
in East-West relations all were attractive to Nigeria. Another external pressure on Nigeria came from the
Organization of African Unity(OAU), which urged its members to join the non-aligned movement. In the
movement, African  issues  became dominant,especially issues like decolonization, racial discrimination,
neocolonialism and imperialism.
From the 1980s to date Nigeria's foreign policy has been centered on what general Ike Nwachuckwu a
one time Minister of External Affairs called "Economic Diplomacy." As said earlier, the main thrust
 of Nigeria's foreign policy presently is the economic empowerment of Nigeria among the comity of
nations, with foreign investment as one of the cardinal points of her foreign economic policy.
  (Written by Effiong Clement)