Nigeria's Foreign Policy

The foreign policy agenda of Nigeria consists of four basic principles: non-alignment, equality among all states, non-interference in domestic affairs, and commitment to multi-lateral diplomacy . These principles guide the recommendations for the G-20 summit in regards to the global financial crisis. Nigeria calls on the world to implement a global bailout package, create a regulation agency, revitalize the Doha Round, and revalue the Chinese Yuan. Finally, the global community should recognize our anti-corruption improvements and continue to provide foreign aid, even if these policies deteriorate in the future, to ensure regional stability.

Nigeria has strong ties with the United States and the United Kingdom, but these countries should not take our friendship for granted under our non-alignment principle. Nigeria recognizes the colonial importance the British played in our past, but because of the West’s unwillingness to support our government during the 1967-1970 Biafra Civil War, Nigeria has since followed a strict policy of non-alignment . Despite historical ties with the West, Nigeria will not give preferential treatment unless it is in the interests of the Nigerian people. The Nigerian people’s interests will come first in all its foreign policy decisions . Trade relations are growing strong between Nigeria and China, India, and other Asian markets , and these states could be strong trading partners and a reliable oil market in the future.

Nigeria seeks to establish equality in the international community. We attempt to ally the fears of small African states of being sidelined in the global community and encourage greater cooperation at the regional and sub-regional levels in Africa . Nigeria pursues this goal through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ECOWAS is a regional group consisting of fifteen West African countries that works to integrate markets and promote regional security. Nigeria’s strong commitment to ECOWAS allows smaller West African countries to operate on a more equal level with developed countries by providing them the ability to act collectively rather than separately. Nigeria also strives to promote the unity of African state and the total political, economic, and social liberation of Africa . With the help of the African Union (AU), Nigeria pursues this goal by strongly supporting democracy in Africa . Nigeria recognizes that democracy promotes a broad spectrum of equalities, and therefore enthusiastically supports all democratic efforts on the continent. For example, Nigeria’s President Umaru Yar’Adua repeatedly criticizes the dictatorial rule of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe . Nigeria commits to follow and advocate similar policies to ensure equality in the international community.

Nigeria is a strong believer in the preservation of national sovereignty, and condemns heavy intervention in one’s domestic affairs. We maintain that human rights and related issues are internal affairs and outside actors have no right to interfere. However, the Nigerian government considers limited external pressures to promote democracy as acceptable . Additionally, Nigeria opposes military interventions in domestic disputes. Nigeria ensured that ECOWAS’s Community Armed Forces, which is the military arm of ECOWAS and is mainly staffed by Nigeria troops and officers, is not allowed to intervene in purely internal conflicts . Nigeria urges all nations to respect national sovereignty – both politically and militarily.
Nigeria exemplifies its commitment to multi-lateral diplomacy through its active role in international organizations. Nigeria played a major role in the founding of ECOWAS and continues to lead by working to develop a single regional currency and achieve a full customs union . Nigeria has borne the brunt of the ECOWAS peacekeeping missions, deploying peacekeeping troops to resolve civil conflicts in West Africa. . In addition, Nigeria generously supports other peacekeeping missions. It is leading the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), which plans to provide stability to the Darfur region, and anticipates spearheading a peacekeeping mission in Somalia. It also provided the bulk of the troops for the United Nations’ peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone and Liberia . Furthermore, Nigeria provides UN peacekeepers for missions outside of Africa, such as in Lebanon and along the India-Pakistani border . We realize our growing importance and increased involvement in the United Nations and other multi-lateral organizations, and we seek representation as a permanent member on the UN Security Council, which has no permanent African members . Nigeria should be a member of this council to sponsor the common interests of the African states.

Nigeria’s economy has slumped because of the global financial crisis, and it calls on the developed countries to quickly adopt measures to rectify the damages they have caused. Nigeria is suffering from a crisis that it did not create, and feels it is the responsibility of the developed countries to sponsor a global bailout package to pay for the problems they spawned. The repercussions on the Nigerian economy are severe. Depressed oil demand in the developed countries has pushed prices down, causing a strain on the Nigerian budget . Because of the slump in income, the Nigerian assembly had to delay its presentation of the 2009 budget to the National Assembly . To prevent a similar crisis in the future, we support a global regulator that will monitor the international financial industry and ensure global economic stability. However, we do not support over-regulation that could hamper economic growth . Nigeria also urges the world to not forget about the Doha Rounds, which have recently stalled. The successful conclusion of these talks will provide developing and developed countries beneficial trade opportunities in the agricultural and service sector, improving trade equality among nation, and will help alleviate the troubles of the current financial crisis .

Nigeria has concerns about the undervalued Chinese Yuan and its negative effects on the Nigerian economy. The undervalued Yuan allows China to gain an unfair advantage in the international market. China produces goods cheaper because it can manipulate its currency. This causes harmful effects on Nigeria, whose once competitive computer industry is now almost nonexistence, and cheap Chinese textiles are depressing workers’ wages and threatening to destroy the entire textile sector . Also, an undervalued Yuan puts downwards pressures on the US dollar. Since the Nigerian Naira is pegged to the US dollar, a depreciated dollar hurts Nigeria’s export sector directly and has long-term consequences for Nigerian purchasing power. Nigeria anticipates working closely with the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Africa to confront the maleficent currency practices of the Chinese government.

Though Nigeria exhibits a noticeable reduction in corruption levels, it is working closely with the G-8 to implement a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy, and opposes aid suspension, regardless of circumstance. Transparency International’s 2008 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) gives Nigeria a score of 2.2, with 10 being least corrupt and 1 being most corrupt . However, this shows a gradual improvement from its previous 2003 CPI score of 1.4 . The Nigerian government is fighting corruption with the help of the G-8 Countries through a national anti-corruption strategy that seeks to increase transparency, implement public sector reforms, and accelerate privatization . Nigeria urges the world to examine Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and continue providing the technical expertise to fight corruption. Nigeria currently meets all World Bank and International Monetary Fund developmental aid requirements and is pursuing the suggestions of Transparency International , however, it should not lose aid if the country fails to meet these conditions. A reduction of aid could jeopardize Nigeria’s political stability and economic growth. Therefore, it is the obligation of the developed world to support Nigeria on its political and economical developments in order to preserve regional stability and sustainable growth.