WAEC Government 2012 Theory — Question 12

Model answer

The basic factors affecting Nigeria's foreign policy are as follows: I. The political structure of the country: An important factor that influences the foreign policy of Nigeria is the political structure of the country. Nigeria is a federal state with diverse ethnic groupings. Nigeria's foreign policy must reflect the diversity of the country. II. Nature of the economy: The nature of the economy whether the economy was experiencing growth or not, influenced the foreign policy of Nigeria. III. Public opinion: The views and perception of the people on burning international issues also influence the foreign policy of the country. IV. Character of political leadership: A major determinant of Nigeria's foreign policy is the character of the political leaders. The nature and character of the leaders influence the making of foreign policy. V. Geo-political location of the country: The location of Nigeria in the Africa continent and the West African sub region greatly influence the country's foreign policy. Nigeria proclaimed Africa as the centre piece of her foreign policy because it is located in Africa.