– Nigeria’s non-aligned foreign policy outdated
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
A non-governmental organisation, Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) at the weekend said it was high time for the federal government to embark on comprehensive foreign policy reset so as to safeguard its future amid global turbulence.
The group noted Nigeria’s present Non-Aligned foreign policy is outdated and outlived its usefulness in today’s fast evolving global power dynamics.
A statement issued in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, by the group’s Executive Director, Comrade AbdulRazaq Hamzat, argued that Nigeria must adopt a new foreign policy framework, “Nigeria-Aligned” designed to prioritize the nation’s security, economic interests, and sovereignty over diplomatic sentiment and historical nostalgia.
Hamzat explained the global system is no longer defined by Cold War era neutrality but by fierce competition over security, energy, technology, trade, migration, and influence.
He noted that, Nigeria’s continued adherence to symbolic non alignment has weakened its bargaining power, diminished its international relevance, and exposed it to growing vulnerabilities.
“Non-alignment once protected Nigeria’s independence. Today, it is mistaken for indecision. We must stop drifting and start negotiating. Our foreign policy must deliver security, jobs, technology transfer, and strategic leverage, not just photo ops and empty communiques,” Hamzat stated.
PeacePro stressed that while Nigeria must engage with all global powers, it must remain loyal only to its national interest, noting that no country can claim leadership abroad while struggling to secure its territory and stabilize its economy at home.
PeacePro called for a comprehensive foreign policy reset, insisting that a move from Non-Aligned to Nigeria-Aligned is essential for Nigeria to reclaim its anchor position in Africa, command respect internationally, and safeguard its future amid global turbulence.
