CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Nigerian foreign policy serves, both as the bridge with which she connects to the global system and a tool with which she relates with other states within the international system in order to achieve her national interests. Her foreign policies are however underpinned by certain principles that serve as the pivot on which her relations with other countries turn. These principles are traceable to three significant speeches made by the country‘s first Prime Minister and head of government, late Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, immediately before, during and shortly after Nigeria‘s independence on October 1, 1960. These speeches incorporate his August 20, 1960 speech in the House of Representatives; his Independence Day speech on October 1, 1960; and the acceptance speech on October 8, 1960, which was made on the occasion of Nigeria‘s accession to the membership of the United Nations. Specifically on October 8, 1960, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa really enunciate the cardinal principles that he thought should underscore the country‘s foreign policy. The four broad principles enunciated are:

First, it is the desire of Nigeria … to remain on friendly terms with all nations and to participate actively in the work of the United Nations Organization.

Secondly, Nigeria, a large and populous country of over thirty-five millions, has absolutely no territorial or expansionist intentions.

Thirdly, we shall not forget our old friends and we are proud to have been accepted as a member of the Commonwealth, but nevertheless we do not intend to align ourselves as a matter of routine with any of the power blocs. We are committed to the principles upon which the United Nations Organization is founded.

Fourthly, Nigeria hopes to work with other African states for the progress of Africa and to assist in bringing all African territories to a state of responsible independence (Balewa and Epelle, 1964, 62-63).

A careful read of these principles reveals the critical issues that Nigeria, as at then, regarded as seriously sensitive, both for its continued existence and to the nature and dynamics of African and international politics, and as such, held dearly to heart and took cognizance of in her dealings within the international system; as well as pursued while relating with African

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units, particularly her contiguous neighbours. Having critically studied the four pronouncements of the late Prime Minister therefore, Olusanya and Akindele (1986, 2-5) insist that the basic principles that can be gleaned, and which successive Nigerian regimes have adopted are:

Nonalignment with any of the then existing ideological and military power blocs, especially NATO and Warsaw Pact;

Respect for the legal equality, political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states;

Respect for the doctrine of non-interference in the domestic affairs of all other states;

Seeking membership of both continental and global multilateral organizations for their functional importance to Nigeria; and

That Africa would be the cornerstone of the country‘s external relations.

One would have thought that these submissions of the first citizen of Nigeria would guarantee a safe and/or peaceful existence that is devoid of external intentions to interfere in the internal dynamics of the country until the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War; through which some extra-territorial powers decided to revenge the misdeeds of Nigeria to them. Indeed, Nigeria had had, because of the explosion of France‘s first atomic bomb in the Sahara desert, to severe bilateral relations with the French government in 1961; while she played significant role in championing African efforts against apartheid in South Africa. More so is the fact that she unleashed her venom-filled fangs against Portugal over the issue of White supremacists‘ rule in Africa. These actions thus created bitter enemies in these three countries, who attempted using the Civil War as a rare privilege at ensuring the splinterization of the country. As such, during the Civil War, while Lisbon served as the depot for arms collection for the Biafrans, France intended to run arms through the terrains of Nigeria‘s immediate neighbours to the insurgents.

In spite of this anti-Nigeria intentions, particularly from their former ‗director‘, the contiguous neighbours of Nigeria, perhaps because of the agreement at the Organization of African Unity (OAU) level that all inherited borders should be maintained or because of their

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having factions that might attempt seceding if the Biafran insurgent should become a success, did not permit the intention of France. Subsequently therefore, the Yakubu Gowon regime decided for a policy of good neighbourliness, which was meant to afford the neighbours the opportunity of enjoying substantial perks from Nigeria. This thus confirms the fact that Africa forms the centerpiece of the Nigerian foreign policy. In pursuant of this policy –good neighbourliness- therefore, Nigeria has overtime contributed immensely towards the development of some, if not all, of its immediate neighbours. In this stead, Nigeria constructed roads and bridges for Benin. It provided interest-free loans and other economic assistance to needy states (Olaniyan, 1986, 127); engaged in joint venture partnership and investments with Benin, Togo and Guinea (ARB, 1976, July 15- August 14); as well as spent upwards of $12bn in her attempts to through the ECOWAS Monitoring Group, quash the domestic inferno that nearly burnt the two countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone to ashes; and presently, is being urged to assist Ebola-hit West African countries on the pretext that she cannot be said to be free and safe if the virus continues to ravage the sister nations (NAN, 2014).

Flowing from the foregoing is the view in existing literature that Nigeria should intensify on its good neighbourliness policy, and that the country should not relent in her aspirations of championing African courses. With regards to unfolding events within the international system, in which Nigeria has been treated with ignominy by her neighbours in the West African region; particularly her immediate neighbours, one realizes that Nigeria needs to review her relations with these neighbours. This is against the backdrop of the fact that they are mostly never on the same page with Nigeria when such collaboration is necessary. As such, while discussing the bid for the proposed permanent seats of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Alaba Ogunsanwo observed that countries to which we give assistance through Nigeria‘s Technical Aid Corps, do not feel obliged to vote for Nigeria or

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take our side on issues we consider important (Ogunsanwo, 2010, 67). Granted this background, this is study seeks to nuance the hidden transcripts that underscore the varying dimensions that Nigeria‘s relations with her neighbours has assumed.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Critically assessing Nigeria‘s relations overtime, it has been proven that Nigeria has played the role of a very good neighbour to the countries around her. This role has always been hinged on the notion of the historic mission and manifest destiny that the country is portrayed to have, a responsibility that both the leaders and citizens of the country alike have overtime believed she is bestowed with by providence. In view of this, existing literature have claimed that Nigeria should always attempt to assist African states, particularly those within the West African zone. Overtime therefore, the country has dispensed of its responsibility as a leading African state on the basis of the perception that she is responsible for the placement of Africa within the international system. As such, she had in time past embarked on certain ventures, with some having illogical tainting, which if not because of her relevance to major powers, would have boomeranged on her and her citizens.

In this vein, this study, while not attempting to grapple issues with extant views, is intended to present a new vista of understanding Nigeria‘s relations with her neighbours; and in this stead, provides a well thought through approach that could be adopted in her relations with African states, particularly her proximate neighbours, even as she intensify in her intent of good neighbourliness.

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1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The specific aims of this study are to:

a. examines the trajectory of the relations between Nigeria and her neighbours; b. interrogate the hidden transcript underpinning their present relations;

c. identify the complex security issues involved in the relations between Nigeria and her neighbours; and to

d. examine how Nigeria is responding to the complexity of issues that her relations with Her contiguous neighbours engender.