Benue State University, Makurdi

A Critical Analysis of President Muhammadu Buhari Administration’s Foreign Policy

Atah Pine

Abstract

The conduct of foreign policy is a major concern for leaders of countries weather developing or developed. This crucial function of governance is required to help countries pursue and establish external relations with other countries in the international system where nations depend on each other to achieve their development agendas and actualize their national interest. Given this position, this paper undertakes a critical analysis of the issues that formed the basis for foreign policy engagements under the administration of President Muhammadu Buahri between 2015-2023. Issues such as re-direction of Nigeria’s external relations from the traditional dominate Western partners to the Beijing model was vigorously pursued which birth a number of gains such as currency swap deal and facilitation of developmental projects like rail and road infrastructure; collaboration for security; citizens diplomacy through the many efforts of NiDCOM; pursuit of democracy and good governance in the continent of Africa; Power Projects and many other gains were recorded under the Administration. Qualitative method of data collection and analysis was adopted for the paper and subjected to re-analysis. The paper discovered that, though the administration pursued and address critical issues in its foreign policy engagement, however, these issues were just reactive which shows a level of disconnection between successive administrations engagement with the external environment. It recommends amongst other things, that succeeding government in Nigeria should have a clearly defined foreign policy aspiration that would be pursued within the realities of the nation’s development aspirations.

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