The article discusses the urgent need for Nigeria to realign its foreign policy in response to a rapidly changing global order. Emphasizing the insights from notable international thinkers, it advocates for strategies centered on sovereignty, regional leadership, and a proactive stance to survive and thrive in a multi-polar world. Key initiatives for this recalibration include a national security review and enhancing diplomatic relations across Africa.
The current global order is undergoing swift and irrevocable change, transforming from a multilateral framework to a multipolar, interest-driven reality. Nigeria, aspiring for continental leadership yet grappling with domestic hurdles, is urged to recalibrate its foreign policy strategically. The national security establishment must recognize these shifts, moving away from outdated post-colonial assumptions towards a more realistic approach centered on national survival and African agency.
Esteemed thinkers in international relations, including Bolaji Akinyemi, Francis Fukuyama, and Samuel Huntington, emphasize the urgency for Nigeria to adapt its foreign policy in response to the fragmentation of the global order. Fukuyama stresses the erosion of democracy and the need for Nigeria to bolster domestic credibility to assert its presence internationally. Huntington’s concepts of identity politics mandate that Nigeria’s foreign policy reflect both its state interests and its multicultural society.
John Mearsheimer asserts that nations should prioritize power over ideals, urging Nigeria to pursue its sovereign interests autonomously. Additionally, Jeffrey Sachs highlights the necessity of integrating development and climate-focused diplomacy into Nigeria’s foreign engagements. Collectively, these perspectives suggest a pressing need for Nigeria to align its foreign policy with current global dynamics.
Professors Akinyemi and George Obiozor advocate for a strategic realignment that emphasizes Africa’s agency in shaping global norms. Akinyemi proposes a coalition of medium powers while Obiozor warns against aspirational foreign policies lacking domestic legitimacy. Their insights reveal that Nigeria stands adrift in a rapidly changing world, with the potential costs of inaction escalating.
Amidst these challenges arise significant opportunities for Nigeria to lead a recalibrated African diplomacy. The nation must prioritize sovereignty, strategic realism, and regional leadership, taking definitive steps to enhance its diplomatic architecture and foster stronger ties within ECOWAS.
Five initiatives are suggested for realignment: conducting a national security review, promoting an African Union summit for policy clarification, establishing a dedicated National Security and Defence Council secretariat, diversifying alliances beyond the West, and embedding sustainability in foreign engagements.
This juncture represents a critical phase for Nigeria’s development of foreign policy as a survival tool. Strengthening this aspect will amplify Nigeria’s influence amidst global power shifts. Influenced by the guiding thoughts of notable scholars, Nigeria is tasked with acting decisively to articulate its interests clearly in a landscape marked by profound change.
In conclusion, Nigeria stands at a pivotal crossroads in its foreign policy journey. The insights of scholars and the pressing realities of a fragmented world necessitate a departure from historical paradigms. By defining its interests with clarity and leading with intent, Nigeria can navigate the complexities of global dynamics, allowing it to not only survive but thrive on its own terms. A calibrated foreign policy, deeply rooted in realism and African solidarity, is essential for Nigeria to elevate its role within a shifting global context.
Original Source: businessday.ng
