Foreign Policy and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria from 2019 – 2024

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between Nigeria's foreign policy and socio-economic development between 2019 and 2024. Guided by the objectives of establishing whether a correlation exists between foreign policy and socio-economic development, and assessing the impact of the manner in which foreign policy resources and opportunities are applied, the study adopts a qualitative and descriptive approach. Drawing on the national interest, dependency, and game theories, it interrogates how Nigeria's foreign policy has been conceptualised, implemented, and reviewed during the period under study. The analysis demonstrates that while Nigeria possesses significant opportunities for leveraging foreign policy to advance income per capita, infrastructure, employment, education, and technological growth, weak institutional frameworks, inconsistent policy application, and leadership deficits have limited these outcomes. The findings emphasise the need for a recalibrated foreign policy anchored on economic diplomacy, stronger domestic bargaining power, and a deliberate orientation towards socio-economic transformation. The study concludes that only through a pragmatic and strategically applied foreign policy can Nigeria achieve sustainable development and greater influence in the international system.