Political Scientists Recommend Redesign Of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy

The Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) has called for a strategic recalibration of Nigeria’s foreign policy.

It said the step was necessary for Nigeria to restore its influence and independence.

The association made the recommendation in a statement signed by its president, Prof. Hassan Saliu, noting that a review of the country’s foreign policy in recent years revealed five disturbing developments that contrast sharply with the image Nigeria projected in the 1970s under the Murtala Muhammed/Olusegun Obasanjo military regimes.

It listed the issues to include ECOWAS fragmentation, weak agreements, debt resurgence, security dependence and low level of citizen involvement.

It therefore called for the reworking of the country’s foreign policy objectives, saying the step was necessary to make them measurable and achievable, as current goals were mired in idealism, thereby improving clarity and accountability in Nigeria’s international efforts.

It added that reassessing Nigeria’s location in the international system was crucial before making policy choices, as it provides a realistic basis for selecting effective instruments to restore Nigeria’s stature and influence.

NPSA added: “Make foreign policy a campaign issue. For now, foreign policy is not an electoral issue. This attitude must change, or Major General Joe Garba’s observation on Nigeria’s lack of seriousness with foreign policy will become permanent.

“Clarify national interest. Despite polemics around the concept, Nigeria must address the lack of clarity in its national interest to guide external relations.

“Enforce due diligence in ambassadorial appointments. Declining capacity has been observed on the part of the country’s ambassadors due to excessive politics in the process. An ambassador represents Nigeria’s sovereignty. The rejection rate of current ambassadors-designate underscores the need for due diligence.

“Fund diplomacy adequately. External relations are an expensive enterprise. Nigerian ambassadors operating on shoestring budgets breed the disaffection Nigerians abroad have with many of the country’s embassies”.