Some of the
achievements of Nigeria Foreign policy include:
Promotion
of African Unity and Solidarity:
Nigeria was not only to
lead Africa, but also to ensure that they are united and pursues common goals.
However the style and commitment to this goal varies from person to person.
For instance, Belewa’s
government in 1965, Nigeria was the first Africa government to resent unanimous
O.A.U resolutions; Gowon’s government played a key role in the formation of the
Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS).
Also Buhari government
was also interested in African Unity and solidarity through his recognition of
the government of the Western Sahara and to get it seated at the O.A.U. summit
in Addis Ababa in 1984.
Babangida also showed
his interest in Africa when he was the Chairman of O.A.U and hosted O.A.U
Summit in Abuja in 1991.
Economic
Cooperation:
Nigeria has tried in
the area of strengthening economic cooperation in Africa through the Economic
and Social Commission of the O.A.U. it is mainly in the area of
inter-governmental economic relations that Nigeria has made an impact in
economic cooperation.
Moreover, it is
pertinent to notice that Nigeria major effort at African economic cooperation
has been more on the sub region, where it engineered the formation of ECOWAS.
Nigeria was also a
major contributor to the African Development Bank. Again in 1980, Nigeria
hosted the O.A.U. and signed a treaty establishing the Africa Economic
Community (A.E.C).
Eradication
of Colonialism and Racism in Africa:
This is perhaps an area
where Nigeria foreign policy has been more effective. For instance,
Mutala/Obasanjo regimes adopted the goal of ridding Africa of all forms of
colonialism and racism as their cardinal foreign objective.
Their regimes where
very militant on racism, they did that through giving financial aids to the
FRELIMO government in Angola, the African National Congress in Zimbabwe and
Mozambique. Nigeria also continued to support liberation movement in Namibia,
South Africa etc. It also fought for the
impositions of compulsory sanction against the racist regimes.
Defense
of the Sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Member State:
The issue of collective
defense by African States has always been a very contentious issue in Africa
politics. This is one of the reasons why O.A.U. set up a defense commission to
promote inter-African cooperation in defense of matters in accordance with the
directive of the Assembly and council of ministers.
However, Nigeria played
a role in defense of African States through the formation of the (ECOWAS)
monitoring group (ECOMOG) that spearheaded peace-keeping operation in Liberia
and Sierra Leone.
Promotion
of international cooperation:
Nigeria as a nation
from independence till date has always maintained friendly relation with most
countries of the world. Nigeria has never been an aggressor in any
international dispute. Presently she belongs to many international
organizations where she has been playing key roles.
The country is a
signatory to many treaties, agreements and conversion and has also tried to
abide by them. Nigeria has also hosted many conferences like the second Black
Festival of Art and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977, O.A.U and ECOWAS sporting fiestas
etc all these are being done ostensibly to foster world peace and
understanding.