Nigeria: The Need for a Dynamic Foreign Policy

Published on 24th June 2011

As Nigerian executive and legislative leaders settle down to a new four year term in office, it is imperative for the most populous black nation on earth to chart a new, muscular, dynamic foreign policy. Nigeria’s president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan recently directed the country’s presidential advisory committee on international relations to assist in reviewing Nigeria’s current foreign policy.

Nigeria’s quest for a potential African slot in an expanded permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council is an important imperative to review the nation’s foreign policy. The window of international goodwill generated by the conduct of a generally commended April 2011 national election is another reason for a robust review of Nigeria’s foreign policy. The growing global influence of China, Brazil, India and South Africa creates a unique tantalizing opportunity for the second richest economy in the continent to expand its influence in global affairs.

The lingering impact of the 2008 global economic meltdown in the West and the growing ascendancy of Western political leaders committed to domestic issues will likely cause a sea of change in the relations between the West and the South countries. International development aid budgets by rich, industrialized nations are likely to decline as their economies digest distortions from painful austerity measures and economic cutbacks. As a country with millions of Nigerians living abroad and an increasingly assertive Diaspora community in North America and Europe, Nigeria needs to revamp its foreign policy operations to meet the exigencies of the time.

To revamp its foreign policy, Nigeria needs to call on the considerable expertise of its foreign policy establishment. This establishment includes serving and former ministers, current and former members of the national assembly especially those that served on foreign affairs committees, ambassadors (serving and retired), former special envoys and foreign policy scholars in the academia, think tanks and civil society organizations. The Nigeria Institute of International Affairs will have an important role to play as a major technical resource.Nigeria’s vibrant print and electronic media are likely to play influential roles in shaping the debate on foreign policy reforms and in channeling the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians.

What are the potential anchors of a revamped Nigeria’s foreign policy?

First, Nigeria’s foreign policy can only be as good as progress made on domestic political, social and economic agenda. To implement a dynamic, muscular foreign policy, Nigeria needs to make steady progress on domestic political reforms, ensure that dividends of democracy continue to reach as many households and communities as possible, tackle high levels of poverty and unemployment and implement social safety net programs for its poor and disabled citizens.

Second, Nigeria’s foreign policy should have a combined political and economic focus. The political focus is likely to continue to be on regional, continental, bilateral and multilateral relations. However, as a country with more than 50 percent of its population living in poverty, foreign policy objectives should have a significant economic focus with emphasis on increasing foreign direct investments and attracting global investments on medium and large scale enterprises. The economic focus should also include search for investments in light rail networks and independent power plants as part of efforts to lay a strong industrial foundation for the country.

Third, the refocused foreign policy should directly channel expectations of Nigeria’s leadership at regional, continental and global levels. In this regard, Nigeria’s foreign policy should be proactive, dynamic and results oriented. It should attract Nigeria’s best minds and practitioners in international relations, global economy, political history, statecraft issues, bilateral and multilateral partnerships. Foreign policy staff should also have expertise on globalization, the evolving game changing role of information technology in the 21st Century and the ascendancy of knowledge-based economy throughout the world. The refocused foreign policy should also reflect the special role of Nigeria and South Africa (the biggest economy in the continent) in a resurgent Africa  

Fourth, Nigeria’s revitalized foreign policy will need stable, long term resources. The recent dedication of the building housing Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign after nearly 21 years of delayed construction is a step in the right direction. However, a muscular, dynamic foreign policy requires long term assurances regarding financial, technical and logistics resources. As first line frontiers of diplomacy, Nigeria embassies and consulates around the world should reflect in appearance and in service delivery a renewed focus on action oriented foreign policy.

Finally, the relationship between Nigeria and Nigerians in the Diaspora will increasingly grow in importance in a refocused foreign policy. Today, Nigerians in the Diaspora have a formidable online presence, with media sites owned by members of the Diaspora already exerting oversized influence on governance and accountability issues in the polity. Various estimates put annual remittances through official channels by Nigerians abroad and in the Diaspora at between $5 billion and $10 billion dollars. The special relationship between Nigeria and its Diaspora is likely to grow in the future in the area of higher education, healthcare, agriculture, energy, telecommunications, investment facilities and advocacy.    

As it approaches its 51st year as an independent nation, Nigeria continues to face major political, social and economic challenges. Attention to domestic issues should be coupled with a dynamic, action oriented foreign policy that takes advantage of Nigeria’s expected leadership role. A lot is expected of Nigeria among the comity of nations. What is unknown is whether Nigeria can rise to the high expectations of its citizens and that of its well wishers around the world.  

By Dr. Chinua Akukwe.

Dr. Akukwe is the former Chairman of the Technical Advisory Board of the Africa Center for Health and Human Security at the George Washington University, Washington, DC. He has written extensively on health and development issues, including four books.


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