Former Nigerian External Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has cautioned that Nigeria and other countries in the Global South must avoid entanglement in the Russia-Ukraine war, warning that alignment with global powers could destabilise their economies and undermine national sovereignty.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television, Akinyemi said the ongoing 42-month conflict is not a localised European crisis but one that carries serious consequences for energy, trade, and diplomacy across the world. He advised that Nigeria, in particular, must define its national interest carefully and resist pressure to take sides.
“It is a big lesson for countries in the Global South: don’t get yourself caught in a conflict between the big boys,” Akinyemi stated. “Let us define our national interests very narrowly so that it does not become part of the national interests of any of the global powers, whether it is Russia, whether it is the United States, or whether it is China; we should all be careful.”
Akinyemi emphasised Nigeria’s global responsibility as Africa’s largest Black nation. He noted that by identifying as the leading Black power worldwide, Nigeria carries a weighty responsibility, especially since many across the global Black community look to it for leadership. He urged the country to reflect deeply on this self-image, act with purpose, and avoid aligning too closely with major global powers. Instead, he stressed that Nigeria should embrace its status as a middle power and approach that role with seriousness and strategic intent.
The former minister also criticised the role of global powers in fueling instability in Ukraine, recalling that foreign interventions had worsened the conflict.
“The US, especially under Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, pushed a section of the elite of the Ukrainian Republic into a confrontation with Russia. I remember it was the CIA that encouraged a coup in Ukraine that overthrew a president. He had to be lifted by helicopter out of the presidential grounds. And there’s a recording of Hillary Clinton saying, ‘No, this is our candidate. This is the person we want. We will make money available for the election,’” he explained.
Turning to recent developments, Akinyemi said the Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had highlighted the imbalance of power, leaving Europe, Ukraine, and the international community sidelined. He described Putin as the main beneficiary of the meeting.
“Putin, who had been marginalised and sidelined internationally for how many years now, was released from, I would say, the cell of isolation where he was put because he was dodging the ICC warrant. Here, he was being received by the most powerful man in the country, red carpet and everything,” Akinyemi noted.
He warned that the conflict’s ripple effects would continue to be felt in global markets, including Nigeria’s. With U.S. tariffs already imposed on countries like India purchasing Russian oil, Akinyemi argued that Nigeria’s oil exports could become a premium alternative, but only if carefully managed.
“If Trump decides to do to Europe, to European countries, buying oil from Russia what he has done to India, then Nigerian oil will be at a premium as an alternative to people who don’t want tariffs as a punishment for buying Russian oil,” he said.
Akinyemi stressed that while the Russia-Ukraine war might appear distant, its consequences are deeply tied to Nigeria’s domestic stability.
“We seem to think that the war between Russia and Ukraine is localised. It isn’t. Russia, since the time of the Soviet Union, has always been regarded as a danger to the whole of Europe. That’s why NATO was formed,” he said, reiterating that Nigeria must tread carefully and uphold neutrality to protect its strategic interests.
