A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF NIGERlA'S AFRO--CENTRIC FOREIGN POLICY (1979 - 1989)
A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF NIGERlA'S AFRO--CENTRIC FOREIGN POLICY (1979 - 1989)
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Date
1990-10
Authors
MOHAMMED, MIJINDADI MAHMUD
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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-centrism in the Nigerian foreign policy (1979 - 1989). This study attempts to prove that because Nigeria has been 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 perceived 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 altos wheth 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 articulation in general
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the Post Graduate school,Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science (International Relations Department of Political Science, Faculty of Art and Social Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria - Nigeria.
Keywords
CRITICAL EXAMINATION,, NIGERlA'S,, AFRO-CENTRIC,, FOREIGN POLIC,, 1979 - 1989,