NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY, ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES MONITORING GROUP AND REGIONAL SECURITY IN WEST AFRICA.

Abstract

The study examined the role of Nigeria in security stability in the West African Sub-region. Nigerian’s foreign policy is based on three basic pillars; the concept that Nigeria is an African nation; it is part and parcel of the continent of Africa. Nigeria’s foreign policy thrust was considered Afrocentric in nature. Nigeria spearheaded the formation of ECOMOG and played a major role in the restoration of peace and stability in Liberia, Sierra Leone, among others. Over 70 percent of the ECOMOG commandants were drawn from Nigerian troops. In February 1995, Nigeria provided 4,908 troops out of 8, 430 troops organized into ten battalions. However, some countries in the West Africa viewed Nigeria’s involvement of its human and material resources in ECOMOG as having a hegemonic undertone. The study adopted a Regional Security Complex theory as its theoretical construct. The study relied on a qualitative method of data gathering technique. The study revealed that by active participation in ECOMOG activities, Nigeria maintained its hegemonic image without losing legitimacy for involving itself in another state's affairs before the international community. The paper concluded that Nigeria intervention in the regional collective security architecture of West Africa helped establish and project her image in diplomatic circles.