Nigeria’s National Interest and its Afrocentric Foreign Policy 2007-2015: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

Overtime, the complex linkage between national interest and foreign policy has been ignored in Nigeria’s Afrocentric foreign policy. It is the downgrading of this vital connection that necessitated this paper. This paper assessed critically Nigeria’s national interest and her Afrocentric policy from 2007-2015. The study aimed at promoting a pragmatic and robust relationship between Nigeria’s national interest and her foreign policy objectives. Due to the qualitative nature of this study, qualitative instrument of unstructured interview was deployed for sourcing primary data, while secondary data were sourced from archival materials, textbooks, online resources, government publications, conference papers, seminar lecture materials, among others. The paper adopted the realist theory as the theoretical basis for analysis. Data generated from the field were used to test the research assumptions. Findings from the study revealed among others that, the rationale for the adoption of Africa as the centerpiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy was informed by altruistic and moral motives, and not by strategic economic interest. However, owing to her diminishing economic power, and the rise of other African countries, who have acquired independence and the capability to challenge her dominance in African politics, Nigeria should rethink her Afrocentric foreign policy to reflect realities of the international system. Therefore, the study advanced the following recommendations: Nigeria should revolutionize her foreign policy, by prioritizing the Afrocentric posture of her foreign policy, by being more national interest focused, in a bid to negotiate successfully, the murky waters of international politics, where might is right; since foreign policy is closely linked to national interest, Nigeria should ensure that her foreign policy objectives are closely tied to the core values of the state and its citizens, when investing in a crisis in another country, Nigeria should aim to benefit from the economic opportunities that are found in that country, after such crisis, like the United State of America often do. This way, Nigeria can repatriate the profits back home to boost her domestic economy.