MILITARY'S INFLUENCE AND ITS ROLE IN SHAPING NIGERIA FOREIGN POLICY

ABSTRACT Nigeria's decline in African leadership and influence is a pressing concern. Despite its significant contributions to the continent's liberation from apartheid and racism, Nigeria's power has waned, rendering it unable to assert itself in critical governance structures. A comprehensive analysis of Nigeria's over 60 years of independence reveals that the country's misunderstanding of power in foreign policy, coupled with the absence of a unified foreign policy approach, has led to disparate interpretations and implementations by successive military and civilian governments. The Nigerian Military's involvement in governance, spanning six regimes and 28 years, has had a profound impact on the country's foreign policy. Despite a national consensus on broad foreign policy principles, each military government imparted its own elitist interpretation, resulting in five distinct phases of foreign policy: uncertainty, post-war diplomacy, radicalization, economic diplomacy, and combative diplomacy. While the military's involvement has largely been detrimental, it has also had positive impacts on foreign policy.This discourse highlights the critical need to address the role of military regimes in Nigeria's foreign policy, examining the intricacies of their decision-making processes and the consequences of their actions. By exploring these dynamics, Nigeria can begin to reclaim its position as a leader in African affairs.