NIGERIAN DEFENCE POLICY IN A WORLD WITH ONE SUPER POWER: WHAT OPTIONS TO FOLLOW

Abstract

Nigeria's defence policy is seldom a subject of national debate by civilians. Apart from few academicians, mostly associated with specific government institutions National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (N.I.P.S.S.) Kuru, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (N.I.I.A.) Lagos, National Institute for Social and Economic Research (N.I.S.E.R) Ibadan, Command and Staff College (C.S.C.) Jaji, scholars have generally avoided discussing Nigeria's defence policy. The debate has largely been left to senior and top ranking military officers in Nigeria. The reasons for this neglect of a very important aspect of our national life are not necessary at this point. The debate on Nigeria's defence policy has always been in piecemeal concentrating on issues of procurement and armament, the size of defence budget, the armed forces structure, etc. Little attention has been given to the strategic doctrines inplicit in Nigeria's defence policy, which serves as the servant of Nigeria's foreign policy.

This project will attempt to examine the foundations and the bias implicit in Nigeria's defence policy between 1960 and 1989. This was the period of the cold war and it is believed that the cold war between the super powers was a variable in Nigeria's defence planning. The project will continue by analysing some of the threats Nigeria perceived during the era of the cold war. The project will also highlight issues surrounding the cold war, the demise of the U.S.S.R. and Eastern Europe, the emergence of the U.S. as the only super power and its likely consequences.

It is hoped that most of the external threats Nigeria perceived during the era of the cold war no longer exist, thereby creating an opportunity for a review of our defence policy. The project will try some recommendations for a credible defence policy for Nigeria in the post cold war era.