Structure and Challenges of Nigeria’s Overseas Diplomatic Missions

This paper is committed to an historical exploration of the structure, functions and challenges of Nigeria’s overseas missions since inception till 1999. To this end, it employed the eclectic method of enquiry, adopting a combination of historical and descriptive methods of data collection. The study relies heavily on secondary data sourced from journal articles, textbooks, newspapers and magazines and other relevant materials including government gazettes. It also benefitted significantly from primary sources of information. Facts and information obtained were subjected to corroboration and critical analysis using qualitative method. This was done in order to enhance objectivity. The paper observes that Nigeria’s overseas missions fall into two broad categories, namely, the diplomatic and consular missions and are of varying sizes. These missions have vigorously pursued the country’s national interest over the years with mixed results of success and failures, amidst daunting challenges

MIDWIFING NIGERIA’S FRAGILE UNITY: THE ROLE OF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO IN THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR

The focus of this paper is to examine the role of Obafemi Awolowo in restoring Nigeria’s unity after the ill-fated secession attempt by the Eastern Region on 30 May, 1967. The paper obtained its data extensively from secondary sources. This is made up of books, journal articles, newspaper reports and government publications relevant to the study. It employs the historical method of data analysis in interrogating information obtained. The paper notes that the Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970, a military response to the political conflict between the North and the East, almost ended in a failure. The impasse was, however, resolved through the strategy of starvation and economic blockade initiated by Awolowo which eventually instigated the surrender of Biafra forces to the Federal Government’s forces in January, 1970. The paper concludes that Awolowo’s ingenuity and strategic advice eventually saved the Nigerian state from imminent decimation and balkanization. His prudent management of the national treasury, as finance minister during the war years, further aided the implementation of the 3Rs post-war programme of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction. This, no doubt, helped significantly in stabilizing the Nigerian polity after the cessation of hostilities in January, 1970.   Article visualizations

Elements of Cooperation and Collaboration in Nigeria-Ghana Relations in Contemporary Times, 1960-1999.

Some previous works on Nigeria-Ghana relations emphasize elements of rivalry, antagonism and disharmony as major themes permeating relations between both countries. This present study, however, contends that relations between both countries have not been as antagonistic as earlier reported.  As a matter of fact, available records at the disposal of this study reveal that apart from some periods of diplomatic conflicts, especially in the early years of their relations (1960-1966) caused largely by inter-personal clashes between the leadership of both countries in the immediate post-independence period, and the expulsion sagas of 1969, 1983 and 1985; both countries have lived in harmony with various instances of accord, cooperation and collaboration on matters of mutual interests.  Given the above observation, this study seeks to reconstruct the history of Nigeria-Ghana relations by emphasizing some elements of cooperation and collaboration in their relationship for the mutual benefit of both countries at large between 1960 and 1999

African boundary politics: a case of Ethiopian-Eritrean boundary discord

This paper examined the boundary discord between Ethiopia and Eritrea over the region around Badme which started as a result of artificial boundaries created by the Italian imperialists. The study depicts the evolution of Italian colonialism in Ethiopia between 1936 and 1941. It exposes the differentials existing between the Muslim lowlanders and Christian highlanders. This paper further showcased the activities of armed resistance movements that emerged such as Eritrean Liberation Front (EFL) and Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The paper discussed the root causes of the war, unlawful expulsion and destruction of houses of Eritreans. The paper concluded with the quest for peace to bring an end to the border discord between Ethiopia and Eritrea.Keywords: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Border Politics, Colonialism, Conflict Resolutio

Expulsion of Nigerian Immigrant Community from Ghana in 1969: Causes and Impact

This paper examines the remote and immediate factors that propelled the expulsion of Nigerian migrants from Ghana in November 1969. While the paper observes that jealousy and xenophobia played important roles in instigating the expulsion order, it notes that the key consideration that informed the Ghanaian action was the economic depression experienced in the country notable in the high rate of youth unemployment within the country. The study further notes that the action brought positive and negative impacts on the Nigerian nation but spelled doom for the cocoa and retail business sectors of the Ghanaian economy in the immediate post-expulsion period. The paper concludes that though Ghana had an inalienable right to expel aliens from her territory, the haste involved in the order and the in-human disposition of Ghanaian law enforcement agents to the deportees left much to be desired. Nigerian migrant stocks are also enjoined to seek necessary clarifications regarding entry and stay permits in their various countries of domicile to avoid similar losses and embarrassment in foreign countries in the future

A HISTORICAL CONTEXTUALIZATION OF SINO-NIGERIAN ECONOMIC RELATIONS, 1971- 2012

The study examined the economic relations between Nigeria and China. It investigated how Chinese firms contributed to the development of the Nigerian economy. This was done against the backdrop of the massive investment of China in the Nigerian economy. The study relied heavily on documentary data. The documentary data were however subjected to internal and external criticisms as well as textual and contextual analysis for authentication. The study found out that the Nigerian state, in its quest to buy goods and attract investments from Chinese investors, has ended up having a massive and unfavourable balance of trade deficit. The implications of these are increase in the nation’s unemployment level, dependence on the Chinese economy and lack of technological knowhow which has been partly the reason for its stagnated economy.  Article visualizations

Introducing Normativity in African International Politics

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Politikon on 21. july 2020, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/02589346.2020.1796001.With fifty-four states, Africa represents a microcosm of the Westphalian world. In conjunction with the Westphalian fragmentation of the continent, other fragmentations have compounded the intractable problem of ‘othering’ on the continent. The fragmentations sum up an African condition in the twenty-first century because they simultaneously represent the ‘divisions’ based on which Africans are ‘differentiated’ and the ‘differences’ based on which Africans are ‘divided’. This article argues for normative international politics in which the divisions and differences are superseded by non-discriminatory, unifying, positive identities and shared values. In this normative international politics, cooperation is the organising principle. The article proposes ‘fusion of horizons’ as the mechanism through which the supersession of the divisions and differences by positive identities and shared values can be realised