Nigeria Foreign Policy and Sustainable Economic Development In Nigeria

An Evaluation of President Buhari’s Administration, 2015-2021

Abstract

This study examines the Nigeria foreign policy and sustainable economic development in Nigeria under president Buhari’s regime. Essentially, the study examines whether Buhari’s foreign policy undermined Nigeria’s national interest; and to determine if Buhari’s economic diplomacy engendered sustainable economic development in Nigeria. By adopting the Concentric Circle theory, documentary method of data collection and expost facto research design, the study found that Nigeria’s foreign policy has been largely Afrocentric in nature, although with different implementation strategies from Nigeria’s leaders. Also, by employing a qualitative analysis, the study discovered that Buhari’s approach of economic diplomacy through its mercantilist policy is somewhat a slight departure from the norm, and also contradictory, when compared with his unresponsive posturing towards immigrants from Niger, Chad and Mali who have undermined the nation’s security and by extension its national interest. After the analysis, the study also found out among other things that the issue of Buhari’s economic diplomacy toward Nigeria’s sustainable economic development has not been largely unsuccessful, as citizens have suffered hardship arising from high cost of living. Furthermore, based on the above finding the study recommends that Buhari’s remaining 8months in office should be used to take decisive actions towards protection of the Nigeria’s national interest by dealing decisively with external elements who are undermining internal security and to replace incompetent individuals manning the economy of the nation.