The Nature of Threat to Nigeria’s Defence Policy in a Fluctuating World Order: A Historical Analysis

Abstract

This article examines the nature and pattern of threats to Nigeria’s defence policy since independence. Indeed, the analysis of threats as a foundation for a country’s defence policy prognostication is very critical because an erroneous assessment may result to underestimation, overestimation, weak as well as unrealistic strategy to achieve both core and peripheral national interests. Internal and external threats to Nigerian state have been prominent since the 1960. Hence, this article examines the nature and impact of internal and external threats to Nigeria. The essay equally assesses the role of the Nigeria’s armed forces to contain the various threats, and concludes with suggestions that to develop a national policy framework that would reduce socio-political and economic instabilities, which makes for threats, are essentially critical. The work also avers that diplomatic relations between Nigeria and her immediate neighbours and the Great Powers is similarly important to tackle threats to Nigeria’s interests. These would be the best way to minimize the recurring threats to Nigeria’s corporate existence and interests because a “state” is only a “state” when it has the capacity to defend itself against any form of threat.