Foundation Urges Nigeria To Stop Non-Aligned Foreign Policy

The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has called on the federal government to discontinue what it called the nation’s “outdated” non-aligned foreign policy, saying it had outlived its usefulness in today’s fast evolving global power dynamics.

The  executive director of PeacePro, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, said Nigeria must adopt a new foreign policy framework, “Nigeria-Aligned” designed to prioritise the nation’s security, economic interests and sovereignty over diplomatic sentiment and historical nostalgia.

Hamzat said the global system is no longer defined by the Cold War era neutrality but by fierce competition over security, energy, technology, trade, migration and influence.

He noted that Nigeria’s continued adherence to symbolic non alignment had weakened its bargaining power, diminished its international relevance and exposed it to growing vulnerabilities.

“Non-alignment once protected Nigeria’s independence. Today, it is mistaken for indecision. We must stop drifting and start negotiating.

Our foreign policy must deliver security, jobs, technology transfer, and strategic leverage, not just photo ops and empty communiques,” Hamzat stated.

He stressed that while Nigeria must engage with all global powers, it must remain loyal only to its national interest, noting that “no country can claim leadership abroad while struggling to secure its territory and stabilise its economy at home.”

Hamzat called for a comprehensive foreign policy reset, insisting that a move from non-aligned to Nigeria-aligned is essential for Nigeria to reclaim its anchor position in Africa, command respect internationally, and safeguard its future amid global turbulence.