MILITARY RULE AND NIGERIA FOREIGN POLICY: A COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF MUHAMMADU BUHARI AND IBRAHIM BABANGIDA’S FOREIGN POLICY (1983-1993)

This research project conducts a comparative assessment of the foreign policies of Nigeria’s military leaders, General Muhammadu Buhari (1983–1985) and General Ibrahim Babangida (1985–1993), during a pivotal decade marked by economic crises and global geopolitical shifts. The study examines how their divergent approaches—Buhari’s nationalist, isolationist stance and Babangida’s pragmatic, engagement-oriented strategy—shaped Nigeria’s international relations, regional influence, and economic trajectory. Buhari’s regime prioritized economic self-reliance, rejecting IMF loans and imposing strict import controls, which led to diplomatic strains, notably with Britain (Dikko Affair) and West African neighbors ("Ghana Must Go" expulsions). In contrast, Babangida embraced economic diplomacy, adopting IMF-backed reforms (Structural Adjustment Program) to attract foreign investment, revitalizing ECOWAS, and spearheading peacekeeping initiatives (ECOMOG). However, his tenure was marred by controversies like Nigeria’s OIC membership and the annulment of the June 12 elections, which eroded international goodwill. The study employs qualitative and historical methods, analyzing primary sources (speeches, archival records) and secondary literature to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each regime’s foreign policy. Key findings reveal that while Buhari’s rigidity isolated Nigeria, Babangida’s flexibility restored global ties but faced domestic backlash. The project underscores the interplay between leadership style, economic imperatives, and diplomatic outcomes, offering lessons for contemporary Nigerian foreign policy. It contributes to scholarly discourse on military governance and Africa’s role in Cold War-era international relations, highlighting the enduring tension between sovereignty and global integration.