Africa as centre piece of Nigerian foreign policy

Ref. Books:              Ibiyemi Oyeneye et.al Round up Government for Senior Secondary Certificate, Longman Publishers Lagos 2006, Pp. 249-252.

Lesson Objectives:  By the end of the lesson, the students should be able to.

1. Africa as centre piece of Nigeria Foreign policy
2. Origin, reasons, for Adoption of Africa as centre piece of Nigeria’s foreign Policy.

• Ways by which Nigeria maintain friendly relation with African state.

Content

1. Nigeria’s call for decolonization: Since independence, Nigeria has not relented in her call for eradication of all forms of colonialism.
2. Nigeria’s Leadership position in Africa: Nigeria want to unite and bring the countries of Africa together to speak with one voice in international organizations such as the Non-aligned movement, common wealth and the U.N.O.
3. Resistance to neo-colonialism in Africa
4. Protection of Nigeria’s domestic interest
5. Nigeria played a vital role in the establishment of former OAU and ECOWAS in 1975 under General Yakubu Gowon.

Implementation of the concept of Africa as the Centre piece of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy

1. Leadership position in Africa
2. Support for intra-African sports Nigeria has demonstrated that Africa is the centre-piece of her foreign policy, through her support for and hosting of the all African Games and African Nations Cup.
3. Intra Africa Economic co-operation: Nigeria supports Intra-Arica Economic Co-operation, such as the establishment of ECOWAS in 1975, and NEPAD in 2002.
4. Settlement of intra-state disputes: Nigeria has participated in the peaceful settlement of political crises in countries like Sierra-leone, Liberia, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe.
5. Establishment of diplomatic relations with all African countries.

Ways by which Nigeria maintain Friendly Relation with African State.

1. Respect for international treaties such as the world Bank, IMF and OPEC.
2. Establishment of durable democratic government since May 24^th1999 till date.
3. Qualitative leadership and consistency of Nigeria’s Foreign policy during Murtala Obasanjo regime earned the country united Nations chairmanship seat of the Antiapartheid committee for over a decade by Major Gen. joe Garba.
4. Promotion of world Peace through peace-keeping force contributions is chad, Liberia, Somalia and Sudan Crises as well as combating Boko-Haram insurgency.
5. Strong economy: Nigeria builds a strong economy with high level modern technology.