Foreign policy experts have urged Nigeria to adopt a consistent, long-term foreign policy framework, arguing that policy inconsistency has left the country without a clear strategic direction.

Speaking at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Foreign Policy Lecture Series held yesterday in Lagos, themed ‘Nigeria and the World: Navigating a Treacherous Global Order’, Professor of International Relations, Alade Fawole, said successive administrations had pursued foreign policy without continuity, leaving Nigeria without a clear and consistent trajectory in its engagement with the international community.

He argued that foreign policy should no longer be shaped by the preferences of each administration but anchored on a comprehensive, non-partisan blueprint capable of guiding the country’s external relations.

Fawole proposed convening a broad-based national conference involving academics, diplomats, military and security experts, the organised private sector, labour unions, media and civil society to develop a unified foreign policy framework.

He noted that the last comprehensive review of Nigeria’s foreign policy was undertaken in 1976 under the Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo administration through the Adebayo Adedeji Committee, adding that another holistic exercise is now overdue.

As part of his recommendations, he urged the government to prioritise industrialisation, value addition to Nigeria’s natural resources and strategic economic partnerships while reducing dependence on Western-led financial institutions.

The prof. said careful long-term planning would enable Nigeria to strengthen its position in Africa and respond more effectively to an evolving international system.

Research Professor, NIIA, Femi Otubanjo, argued that Nigeria’s foreign policy challenges are rooted in weaknesses within its domestic environment, maintaining that no country could effectively pursue its national interests abroad without first addressing governance and institutional deficiencies at home.

Otubanjo cautioned against copying foreign systems wholesale, saying Nigeria must instead build governance structures that reflect its own realities and national aspirations.

He said building a broad domestic consensus on governance and development remained critical to overcoming the country’s longstanding challenges.

Also speaking, Professor of Political Science, Adele Jinadu, stressed the need for Nigeria to organise its international resources and pursue a foreign policy firmly anchored on national interest, saying strategic planning remains essential for effective engagement in global affairs.

Jinadu criticised what he described as the European Union’s influence over democratic processes in Africa, arguing that external pressure had at times shaped political outcomes in West Africa while sidelining African perspectives on democratic governance and development.

The political scientist further lamented Nigeria’s weak historical consciousness, saying the country had failed to institutionalise the study of national history, a development he said had undermined informed policymaking.

He urged researchers to play a more active role in shaping public policy while advocating greater accountability, transparency and sustained efforts to strengthen regional integration.