REVISITING AFRO-CENTRICISM AS NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY CENTERPIECE AS NECESSITATED BY THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC REALITIES OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed lots of hidden interests amongst nation states in international relations. If nothing else, it has gone ahead to strengthen the idea that the primary duty and responsibility of every government remains first and foremost, the protection and preservation of its citizens’ lives and properties at home and abroad. Nigeria over the years has chosen Afro-centricism as the centerpiece of its foreign policy and that policy thrust since 1960 has placed other African countries interests a little too high over the interests of Nigerians, who suffer lack and neglect at the expense of ensuring stability and prosperity in neighboring sister states to the detriment of the Nigerian society. As the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the closure of borders, and nation states scurry into forced- isolationism and self-quarantine, orchestrating the management of lean resources to maintain and sustain their citizenry. This research work adopted the historical narrative and analytical approach. Dissected data from mainly secondary sources to review the socio-economic progress or otherwise of Nigeria’s age long Foreign policy thrust as juxtaposed with the present COVID-19 Socio-economic harsh realities being faced by Nigerians, contrary to what is obtainable in other neighboring countries at this point in time.