From Pariah to Accommodation
The Nature and Pattern of Nigeria’s Foreign Relations, 1999-2007
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51415/9pzdng73Abstract
Foreign policy is an endless dialogue between domestic and external forces. Since its independence in October 1960, Nigeria’s foreign policy under successive administrations, military or civilian, has been shaped by domestic and external forces. Against this background, the paper examines the influence of domestic factors on Nigeria’s external policy from 1999 to 2007. Prior to the emergence of the Fourth Republic led by President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, Nigeria’s domestic environment was characterised by massive criticism both from within and outside due to the annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and the high-handedness and gross human rights violations of the regime of General Sani Abacha that preceded it, leading to Nigeria’s sanctions by the United States, European nations, and suspension from the International Community. The paper explores the impact of Nigeria’s expulsion from the international community on Nigeria’s external image and economy. It discusses the various foreign policy strategies of President Obasanjo's administration to restore the country’s external image, which led to the revival of Nigeria’s economy during the period of study. The paper adopts the historical and analytical research methods. It utilises primary and secondary data collected from newspaper reports, official publications, and books in discussing the nature and pattern of Nigeria’s foreign policy from 1999 to 2007. Based on what has been done so far in this research, the findings reveal that Nigeria’s foreign policy during the period under review was shaped by domestic factors. Findings have also shown that the Nigerian economy experienced a sharp improvement with the Foreign Direct Investment initiative of the Fourth Republic. The paper concludes that the foreign policy initiatives of the Nigerian administration from 1999 to 2007 repositioned the country’s external image and cleared the negative perception of Nigeria held by the West. The paper recommends that the Nigerian government should always adopt cost-benefit analysis in conducting the country’s external relations.
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