~ 215 ~ WWJMRD 2017; 3(10): 215-221 www.wwjmrd.com International Journal Peer Reviewed Journal Refereed Journal Indexed Journal UGC Approved Journal Impact Factor MJIF: 4.25 e-ISSN: 2454-6615 Idahosa Stephen Osaherumwen Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia Adebayo Kafilat Motunrayo Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia Correspondence: Idahosa Stephen Osaherumwen Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia An Analysis of the Nigerian Foreign Policy: A Narrative Idahosa Stephen Osaherumwen, Adebayo Kafilat Motunrayo Abstract The aim of this research is to analyze the foreign policy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, focusing on the various changes that took place in Nigerian foreign policy since Independent, and specifically upon the election of President M. Buhari. It sets out to explain these changes and classify them through the analysis of Ogidan.P. Damilola and the theoretical model developed by Charles F. Hermann in his article „Changing Course: When Governments Choose to Redirect Foreign Policy‟, attempting to answer the following question: which are the most influential factors in shaping Nigeria‟s foreign policy since independence? The paper holds that there is a mix of internal causes and exogenous factors determining the course of Nigerian foreign policy. Foreign policy is basically the mirror of domestic policy, but it will be insufficient, this be the only focus on analysis, as the most important factors in this analysis is both domestic and external. Keywords: Nigerian Foreign Policy, foreign relations Introduction Man is a social being, which means friendships and relations have been in existence between humans since the beginning of human creation, arguably the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle once said “man by nature is a political animal”. As such, Nigerian foreign policy didn‟t just start at independence; it dates back to during the times of the Hausa emirates, the Igbo kingdoms, the Benin kingdom and the Oyo empires. However, diplomatic relations were established with the coming of colonial officers with such establishments like the consular authority in 1847 and the famous amalgamation of 1914. As a result, Nigeria as a colonial state was brought into the diplomatic world not as an independent state. To this end, now the understanding of foreign policy, it‟s that type of action a state embarks upon in its interactions with other member states in the international environment, in the process of striving to attain its goals and objectives. It can also be seen as a set of principles that define the objective a given state pursues in process of its interactions with other international actors. Which also however connotes the strategy or planned course of action, related to external relations developed by decision makers aimed at achieving specific goals. For the purpose of this paper, foreign policy is viewed as a strategic planned course of action that aims at achieving a particular goal based on specific reasons in the international and domestic system, at a particular point in time. Safeguarding a nation‟s national interest is then the basic aim of a nation‟s foreign policy. The propelling force of a foreign policy of a state it‟s the state‟s national interest (Ade-Ibijola, Aderemi Opeyemi, 2013). On the basis of what constitute Nigeria‟s national interest has however remained a matter of intense argument and disagreement among scholars. Olajide Aluko (1981) states three issues with which he referred to as vital elements of Nigeria‟s national interest, these are self - preservation of the country, the defense and maintenance of the country‟s independence and the economic and social well-being of the people. He also argued on some characteristics as not been constituting core or vital elements, they are; defense, preservation and promotion of way of life of Nigerian‟s especially its values of democracy, the development of the country‟s stance in the comity of nations, particularly in Africa and promoting world peace. But on the other hand, Olusanya and Akindele (1986), Nigeria‟s national interests are; the World Wide Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development