NIGERIAN FOREIGN POLICY AND ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNDER PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION

### Abstract This study examines Nigerian foreign policy and its implications for economic development under President Muhammadu Buhari’s civilian administration (2015–2023). It explores how foreign policy initiatives were deployed as instruments of economic diplomacy to attract foreign direct investment, expand trade relations, enhance regional integration, and promote national economic interests. The study adopts a qualitative research approach, relying on secondary data sourced from government policy documents, official speeches, academic journals, reports from international organizations, and relevant textbooks. The analysis focuses on key foreign policy strategies such as the anti-corruption agenda, engagement with multilateral institutions, diplomacy for security cooperation, and Nigeria’s participation in regional and global economic frameworks, including ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Findings indicate that while the Buhari administration prioritized economic diplomacy and sought to reposition Nigeria globally, the outcomes were mixed due to domestic economic challenges, security concerns, global economic shocks, and implementation constraints. The study concludes that Nigerian foreign policy under Buhari contributed modestly to economic development but was limited by structural and institutional weaknesses. It recommends a more coherent foreign policy framework aligned with domestic economic reforms to enhance sustainable development and international competitiveness.