A REVIEW OF THE FOREIGN POLICY OF PRESIDENT BUHARI ADMINISTRATION: SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS (2015-2021)

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out in an attempt to review the Foreign Policy of President Buhari Administration from 2015 to 2021. The Buhari Administration in terms of its foreign policy strategies has gone through ups and downs. This research shows how the Administration went about achieving its goals, while keeping in mind its domestic policies. Through the use of Economic and Shuttle Diplomacy, it would be explained how Nigeria fought against insecurity with the formation of a joint task force with countries from the region, attracted Foreign Direct Investment from China and formed relations with the BRICS. The challenges faced by this Administration were be analysed and how the insecurity is affecting the investments brought into the country as well as how the country is unable to maintain its position at the African Union. This research recommends that the Buhari Administration’s Foreign Policy needs to be reviewed so that the common man experiences the goodwill of fruitful external relations.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

4.1.Background of the Study

According to Hermann (1978:34 as cited in Bojang, 2018), Foreign Policy is “the discrete purposeful action that results from the political level decision of an individual or group of individuals.” This definition explains foreign policy as a behaviour of states whereby a political leader or group comes together to make decisions based on certain factors that takes into account the relationship a country has with other states in the international system. Other scholarly definitions include Modelski (1960:6-7), who defines Foreign Policy as “the system of activities evolved by communities for changing the behaviour of other states and for adjusting their own activities to the international environment.” Modelski took note of the aspect of policies that bring about change in the behaviour of states (As cited in Bojang, 2018).

Nigeria’s Foreign Policy has evolved from the period of colonisation when the country’s political and ideological foundation were tied to its colonial master, Britain. Before 1960, the role Nigeria played in the international system was decreed by Britain. On October 1, 1960,

Nigeria gained independence bringing into power Nnamdi Azikiwe as the President and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as the Prime Minister. Upon becoming a sovereign state, Nigeria joined the United Nations as its 99th member and before the General Assembly, Tafawa Balewa made the country’s maiden speech in which he outlined certain principles that would guide the country’s policy in relation to other states in the global arena. These principles are as follows:

1. Friendly relations with other nations and active membership in the United Nations organisation ii. Preservation of existing relations with old friends and membership of British

Commonwealth

iii. The country will not as a matter of routine affiliate itself with any of the power blocs iv. To work with other African nations for the progress of the continent and assist in bringing all African territories to a state of responsible independence

1. To be involved in finding solutions to the problems of the rest of the world through the United Nations organisation

Along with these principles, the First Republic leaders played a vital role in laying down the foundations for Nigeria’s foreign policy. Since independence and  despite factors such as decolonization, administrational changes from civilian to the military governments, unitary, federal, parliamentary and presidential systems of government and the numerous transitions to democratic rule, Nigeria’s foreign policy has been to a great extent anchored upon these principles. Nigerian leaders from the First Republic (1960-66), through the Second Republic

(1979-83) and the Third Republic (1993), along with the military Administrations until early 1990s, focused on the promotion of African unity. They fought for the freedom of Africa from colonialism and apartheid. Prior to 1999, during the military government of General Abacha, Nigeria’s relations and foreign policy have suffered. Nigeria became a pariah state. The situation became worse when President Mandela of South Africa criticized the hanging of the Ogoni Nine (Ken Saro- Wiwa and 8 others) by General Sani Abacha in November 1995.

Nigeria’s foreign policy improved with the return to democracy in 1999. Thus began the Fourth Republic, the advent of which ensured a different form of diplomacy. Since 1999, all the Presidents pursued a more accommodating behaviour to the West. President Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007) came to power when Nigeria’s foreign relations and policies were in shambles. As a result, he focused on repairing relationships between the country and the international community through economic and shuttle diplomacy. The country was in debt and he worked to have the Paris Club debts reduced. Africa remained the centre-piece of Nigeria’s foreign policy. President Umar Musa Yar’adua who succeeded him (2007-2010) placed emphasis on “Citizen Diplomacy,” The form of foreign policy that focused on Nigerians in the diaspora and those suffering in countries that have been and were still beneficiaries of Nigeria’s largesse (Nwanolue, Osegbue & Iwuoha, 2010). President

Goodluck Jonathan (2010-2015) also focused on economic diplomacy. The current President, Muhammadu Buhari, who was elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, embraced a form of foreign policy similar to his predecessors in aspect of economic growth and diversity. The insurgency in North-East and Niger Delta influenced the method used by the President in conducting Nigeria’s foreign policy

According to Northedge (1968 as cited in Ebegbulem, 2019), foreign policy is a result of internal and external factors. It can be asserted that there is a connection between domestic policies and foreign policy. The manifesto of President Buhari was focused on tackling security, corruption and the economy (Adebayo, 2018). Therefore, these three issues have influenced Nigeria’s foreign policy today. The connection between shuttle diplomacy and economic diplomacy in Nigeria can be described as interlocked because the condition of the economy due to corruption and dependence solely on crude oil as a source of revenue and lack of security due to the insurgency of Boko Haram in the northeastern part of the country drove the president to adopt these two forms of diplomacy (Ovaga, 2012).

The Niger-Delta insurgency laid the foundation for security problems in the country as well as Boko Haram greatly impacted on Nigeria’s foreign policy since 2010. The northern part of the country has been blacklisted as an unsafe place to visit and invest in due to its high level of unease. Boko Haram emerged during Jonathan Administration and they are still causing tension within Nigeria ten years afterwards. Coupled with other religious and ethnic conflicts over the years, increase in kidnappings, sexual assaults, thievery, corruption and recent emergence of Fulani outlaws, security is at a low ebb and its influence on Nigeria’s Foreign Policy are quite visible.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Foreign policy is essential to a country in this globalised world. No country can stay independent. Interaction is necessary between nation-states. As a result, it was essential when President Buhari came to power to take note of both the internal and external factors when formulating his foreign policy to drive Nigeria’s relations with the rest of the world. However, Nigeria’s strive for a successful foreign policy has been rather ineffective. What is responsible for this inefficiency? How can these issues be dealt with to bring about fruitful policies? Is there potential for the policies to bring about  great benefits to the country? Furthermore, the problem here is the continuous use of economic diplomacy as a foreign policy in the country. Nigeria has time and time adopted certain policies that have not necessarily developed the country the way it was meant to. The country is still embedded in serious poverty, insecurity and economic depression.

Through the research, the factors that determine the frequent use of these policies have been examined.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. to identify the Foreign Policy Agenda of the Buhari Administration ii.       to identify the achievements of the Buhari Administration’s Foreign Policy iii.        to identify the constraints and failures of the Administration in its foreign relations

1.4 Research Questions

1. what is the Foreign Policy Agenda of the Buhari Administration?
2. what are the achievements of the Buhari Administration’s Foreign Policy?

• what are the challenges that the Administration is facing in the pursuit of its

Agenda on the world stage?

5.   Research Assumptions

1. the Buhari Administration has laid out an Agenda for pursuing Nigeria’s interest abroad ii. the Buhari Administration has faced some challenges in pursuing its Agenda abroad and iii. despite the hiccups, the Administration has recorded achievements and there are good prospects in the pursuit of the Foreign Policy Agenda

6.   Research Methodology

This study was carried out through the use of qualitative content analysis. The method of collecting data used is document study. The study is limited to collection and analysis of data such as speeches by the President, publications, journals, books, newspapers and  foreign policy appraisals. This research also includes an interview with a former Ambassador on the achievements, challenges, constraints and prospects of the Buhari Administration’s Foreign Policy.

7.   Scope and Limitations of the Study

The scope of the research is the period within which Buhari has been President of Nigeria which covers his First Term (2015-2019) and his Second Term (2019- to date). The research is limited to diplomatic issues only. This research is limited due to the inability to conduct a face-to-face interview with the Minister or Bureaucrats in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After months of waiting for a response, the Researcher was able to contact an official in the Ministry and was told that it was not possible to get an interview face-to-face, only through anonymous questionnaires. This method was discarded due to time constraints.

8.   Significance of the Study

This research is aimed at documenting the foreign policy of President Muhammadu Buhari, taking into account the successes, failures and prospects of these policies. Foreign policy is essential for such a country as it heavily depends on other nations for many things, such as export of its oil and imports of manufactured products. The Administration has faced a lot of domestic challenges since coming into office such as Boko Haram insurgency, FarmersHerdsmen conflicts, bandits ravaging the north-west region of the country, Niger-Delta militant activities, economic depression and the fall of the national currency, the Naira. This situation was exacerbated by COVID 19. All of these factors influence the foreign policy of the administration.

9.   Definition of Terms

Successes in this research refer to achievements and accomplishments of the Buhari Administration’s Foreign Policy.

Challenges refer to constraints, failures and areas that the foreign policy strategies adopted did not prove fruitful.

Prospects mean the chances and the possibilities of the Buhari Administration’s Foreign Policy strategies actually turning out to be good for the future.

Citizen Diplomacy involves  diplomatic relations whereby the citizens of a country and in diaspora as well as the national interest are the priority.

Economic Diplomacy refers to a form of foreign policy whereby agreements and diplomatic negotiations are conducted to promote the national economy and get foreign direct investment for the advancement of the state.

Shuttle Diplomacy is the frequent movement of an official intermediary party, Foreign Minister or Head of State to carry out diplomatic negotiations.

10. Research Outline

This research is arranged in five chapters as follows: Chapter One is the introduction. It gives a brief explanation of the subject-matter in the background to the issue; the statement of the problem; the research questions and objectives, significance, scope and limitations of the study and the method of collecting and analysing data. Chapter Two reviews extant literature on Nigeria’s foreign policy. This chapter also contained the theoretical framework. Chapter Three addresses the historical overview of Nigeria’s foreign Policy in the previous administrations from 1960 to 2015. Chapter Four looks at the research questions on the foreign policy agenda, successes, challenges and prospects of the Buhari Administration and Chapter Five, which is the conclusion, contains a summary of the work, the major findings and some recommendations.

A REVIEW OF THE FOREIGN POLICY OF PRESIDENT BUHARI ADMINISTRATION: SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS (2015-2021)

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