NIGERIA FOREIGN POLICY AND IT'S MULTILATERAL DIPLOMACY. A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIAN COMMONWEALATION RELATIONS FROM 2019--2023

This study focuses on Nigeria’s Foreign Policy and Multilateral Diplomatic engagements with the Commonwealth of Nations from 2019 to 2023. It examines how these relationships have contributed to the promotion of democratic principles and economic development. Nigeria as a founding member of the Commonwealth and a key African player, has utilized its membership to access political, institutional and economic opportunities. The study utilizes an ex-post facto research design, analyzing secondary data such as official policy documents, election observer reports and scholarly publications to assess the impact of Nigeria’s involvement in Commonwealth platforms like the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) and electoral support programme. Anchored on Dependency Theory, the study argues that Nigeria’s continued reliance on Commonwealth mechanisms for democratic legitimacy and economic opportunities reflects a broader structural dependence rooted in historical colonial ties and unequal global economic relations. The theory highlights how post-colonial states like Nigeria often remain on the periphery of global influence, relying on external institutions for validation and development aid, which may undermine national sovereignty and self-reliance. The findings indicate that Nigeria has benefitted from Commonwealth-led technical assistance, electoral observation and trade facilitation. However, internal challenges such as policy inconsistency, weak institutional capacity and corruption have hindered the full realization of these benefits. The study concludes that Nigeria must enhance domestic coordination, implement foreign policy consistently and align diplomatic goals with national development objectives to optimize its multilateral foreign policy consistently and align diplomatic goals with national development objectives to optimize its multilateral engagement, particularly within the Commonwealth framework. The study recommends that Nigeria adopt a more strategic and autonomous approach to multilateral diplomacy by strengthening domestic institutions, ensuring consistency in foreign policy implementation and developing mechanisms to domesticate and monitor the outcomes of multilateral engagements. It further advocates for reduced dependence on external democratic support by investing in electoral integrity, inclusive governance and intra-Commonwealth trade driven by local enterprises. Ultimately, Nigeria’s foreign policy must shift from symbolic multilateralism to results-oriented diplomacy rooted in national interests and development priorities.