THE EFFECT OF TERRORISM ON NIGERIAN FOREIGN POLICY
ABSTRACT:
The study analyses the relationship or correlation between Nigeria’s foreign policy and the Boko-Haram insurgency in Nigeria. Using secondary data and system theory, this study reveals the devastating effects of the activities of Boko Haram insurgence on the Nigerian foreign policy.These effects range from killing of innocent lives, destruction of private and public properties, bombing of places of worship, etc. which have resulted in
increase in the number of displaced persons, shutting down of economic activities, etc. this makes the foreign policy of open economy to turn down as the economic environment in the country suffers from insecurity.
Findings also show that Nigeria is currently deficient to still maintain her stand as giant of Africa as she cannot provide security for her citizens. Consequently, it dents the image of the country in the comity of nations and
no nation will command respect among the members of international community if it harbors terrorists. It is the opinion of the paper that the way in which a nation is internally organized that will accord it respect at the
international level. The paper thus, concludes that the vital decisions are taken in the international system based on the perceived image of nation states. It is therefore recommended that, the struggle to contain the activities
of Boko Haram insurgency will only record success if the various internal factors like poverty, corruption, etc. are addressed and if they are shared interest by other neighboring countries which will lead to cooperation.
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Since Nigeria won her independence on 1st October 1960, Africa has no doubt occupied a
central position in her foreign policy. In other words, Nigeria’s foreign policy is Africacentred, built on the core principles of working for the peace, integration and cooperation of the Continent. And these guiding
principles have largely remained constant, because they can be employed at any given point in time to explain Nigeria’s behaviour at the continental and global levels. For instance, the active involvement of Nigeria in the
resolution of most conflicts on the African continent through the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) can be explained using one of the core principles of peaceful neighbourhood. Nigeria believes that the neighbourhood she lives in really matter. That is, if the countries around you are all fighting, it will discourage the flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country. This is often called the
‘neighbourhood effect’. It is in recognition of this fact that virtually all Nigerian Presidents often channel their energy into resolving violent conflicts on the Continent, because we need a good and peaceful neighbourhood if we are to develop economically and otherwise.
Consequently, the foreign policy of Nigeria can best be assessed within the context of its regional and global relations, as well as its aspirations. Furthermore, certain internal and external factors play important role in influencing or shaping Nigeria’s foreign policy. Among these factors are the nature and structure of the Nigerian economy, which is primarily mono-cultural (oil driven), geopolitical location in West Africa, the nature of
political leadership, military capability, population and domestic political situation in Nigeria (Kayode, 2016). Importantly, events such as domestic policies and actions of sovereign governments, routine exercise of power on matters of day-to-day governance, can snow ball into foreign policy controversies that are likely to attract global attention. In other words, issues or matters upon which governments have acted within their domestic jurisdiction often become issues or matters of international concern. In the same vein, the activities of Boko-Haram insurgents which hitherto was regarded as a Nigerian problem has now snowballed into an international problem, affecting countries like Cameroun, Niger, Chad and the investments
of countries beyond the shores of Africa. Therefore, the activities of Boko-Haram in recent time, has contributed in no small measure to the dented image of Nigeria among the comity of Nations, as well as in the area of economic development by slowing down the developmental strides of the country through the arrest of efforts aimed at wealth creation. This has left the citizens poorer, especially in North-East Nigeria, by discouraging wealth creation or business activities and the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
(Olanrewaju, 2015). Against this background, the main thrust of this paper is to show the nexus between foreign policy and insurgency. In other words, it examines the impact of Boko-Haram insurgency on the Nigeria’s foreign policy.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The objective of Nigeria’s foreign policy like foreign policy of every other nation is to establish and maintain a cordial relationship with other nations as well as to build a good image for herself and meet her national interest. This invariably means that foreign policy is important in formulating, maintaining and sustaining a nation’s good image. Over the years, Nigerian image has been affected negatively as a result of the activities of Bokko-Haram insurgency. The
problem of the activities of Bokko-Haram insurgency affecting the country’s image is located in accurately managing the nation’s domestic interest. In response to this, the research work therefore aims at investigating the nexus between Nigeria’s foreign policy and insurgency, with a focus on the activities
of Bokko- Haram.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this study is to ascertain the nexus between Nigeria’s foreign policy and insurgency. Nigeria’s Foreign Policy The objectives of Nigeria’s foreign policy have, since the country’s attainment of independence or nationhood in 1960 been broadly spelt out by successive administrations. The broad and overriding objectives of Nigeria’s foreign policy and indeed the foreign policy of any country, is to promote and protect the country’s national
interests (Akindele, 1996). The foreign policy of Nigeria has over the years continued to evolve, from past military regimes and civilian administration since independence to what we now have today. These policies have remained
with some amendments in order to capture local, global, political and economic changes. According to Aluko (1981), in 1960, these principles were the usual respect of sovereign equality of other countries, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries as wellas commitment to cooperation as a means of
promoting African unity. As such, Africa is the Centre-piece of Nigeria’s foreign policy. Section 19 of 1979 and 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had gone further to set the foreign policy objectives of the Nigerian state. Thus, the foreign policy shall be:
• Promotion and protection of national interest;
• Promotion of African integration and support of African unity;
• Promotion of international cooperation for consolidation of universal peace and mutual respect among all nations and elimination in all its manifestation;
• Respect for international law and treaty. Obligations as well as the seeking of settlement of international disputes by negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and adjudication; and
• Promotion of a just world economic order (Wogu, Sholarin & Chidozie,
2015).
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
This work is framed within System theory to explain the nexus between Nigeria foreign policy and insurgency. The underlying assumption of system theory is that there is order in our system in international relations. It sees nations as being in constant contact in an intricate framework of relationships resulting from the process of interaction. According to this theory, every nation is involved in some degree of participation in the international environment. A nation’s behaviour according to the theory is a twoway activity of taking from and giving to the international environment. It is this process of exchange that the theory referred to as the international system. The systemic approach views the international system as a result of diverse actions. International relationships are conceived as the consequences of vast number of particular
purposes, intentions, expectations and efforts. According to the theory, since the international system is the result of interactions, it is closely connected with the idea of transformation in some form or the other. This is because the interaction of state behaviour is always subject to change under the impact of
new factors According to Chandra in Obi there are three major usages followed in this approach (Obi, 2006). The first is concerned with description, the second with explanation
and the third with analysis of international society. According to Obi, James Rosenau represents the first usage and according to him, a system is considered to exist in an environment and to be composed of parts which through interaction are in relations to each other (Obi, 2006). While those who use the term in this sense are interested only in describing the pattern of action among international actors, those who use it as explanation differ from
them. Morton Kaplans is one of the most recognized of the systemic school. According to him, there is some coherence, regularity and order in international politics (Morton, 2007). He asserts that international politics implies two things: international system and nation state system. While nation states are the main actors in international politics, the role changes with the change of international system. In summation, the system theory sees nations as constantly interacting in other to give and get in return from other nations. The theory asserts that in other for this to happen nations must engage in some degree of participation in the international environment. This theory is relevant to this paper because, the Nigeria state is an actor in the international
system like-wise the Boko Haram insurgents/terrorists though not a core actor as states. States in the international systeminterdepend on each other as challenges in one part will mar the stability of other sub-systems (parts). This interdependence is further entrenched and consolidated with the trend of globalization where free movement of goods, services, and people especially among member-states of ECOWAS which Nigeria is a signatory. Also, since this work is based on a non-state actor (insurgence/terrorism), which has a global network, the resultant effects of its activities will be the shared interest of states thereby, necessitating cooperation, interaction or relationship with other nations in other for it to meet or accomplish its domestic interest through its foreign policy.
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