The challenges of Nigeria in leveraging foreign policy for sustainable national growth

Abstract

The study examined the challenges of Nigeria’s strategic alliances on national growth using a descriptive mixed-methods research design that integrates qualitative and quantitative approaches. Realism theory was adopted. A total of 123 participants, purposively selected from a population of 180 foreign policy stakeholders including officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NIIA, diplomatic corps, and academia provided insights through structured questionnaires but 111 were retrieved and analyzed. Secondary data were drawn from treaties, white papers, and institutional reports from ECOWAS, AU, and others. Findings revealed that while Nigeria’s foreign policy is adaptive and proactive in international engagement, it often lacks coherence, long-term strategic focus, and effective implementation factors that diminish its capacity to yield tangible economic and security benefits. The study identified challenges include inconsistent policy across administrations, political instability, weak institutions, corruption, overreliance on foreign aid, and inadequate funding. The study recommended that The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) should be equipped with modern tools, training, and resources to ensure effective and professional diplomacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and Development Partners Coordination Units, should lead this process by producing annual foreign policy performance reviews.