Nigerian Foreign and National Security Policy: Implications for the West African Sub-Regional Stability in the Post-Cold War Era

Abstract

The paper examines the defining characteristics of Nigeria's foreign and defence policy, commitment to the promotion of sub-regional stability and the national security challenges it faces since returning to civil rule in 1999. Examining Nigeria’s commitment to the realization of stability in West African sub-region, the study excavates the tenor of Nigeria’s defence strategy vis-à-vis growing threats that accompanied the post-Cold War era. The paper argues that threats such as international terrorism, kidnapping, militia crises, cross-border crimes, and human and drug trafficking, constitute major obstacles and distractions to Nigeria’s commitment towards the promotion of security and democracy in Africa. The article concludes that for Nigeria to continue to be a sub-regional power in West African sub-region, it will need to step up to the challenge of being able to deter both internal and external threats with a strong defence capability and better intelligence gathering of its armed forces.