A PROPOSAL ON THE NIGERIAN STATE AND THE CHALLENGES OF FOREIGN CITIZENS. A STUDY OF KANO METROPOLIS

Abstract

The study will investigate the Nigerian state and the challenges of foreign citizens. Case study of Kano metropolis. The following objectives will be used for the study: following objectives will be ascertained; To ascertain the effect of Nigeria foreign policy on foreign citizens, to ascertain the challenges of foreign citizens in Nigeria and to ascertain the effect of national interest on foreign citizens. The method of data analysis that will be used by the researcher is the simple percentage. More so, percentage and degrees of the responses will also be used in the analysis. Here, the ratio of those whose responses were not in the affirmative will be found and conclusions will be drawn there upon.  Representations of the level of responses will be made in tabular form. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software will be used to test the hypotheses

Chapter one

Introduction

1.1Background of the study

The promotion of general welfare of the citizens and securing liberty for all towards positive perception, both at home and abroad is an incontrovertible project of any state’s policymaking. Nigeria’s government, like any other state, employs its foreign policy thrusts in achieving this policymaking project, especially when dealing with other nations. Thus, the task of the study is to evaluate the holdbacks to achieving the plights of Nigerian citizens both at home and abroad (which is the crux for espousing citizen diplomacy), and to assess the effectiveness of the government initiatives towards Nigeria project.

Foreign policy has assumed an increased importance in the present international system. The ability of a nation to interact with other nations is a reflection of its acceptance internationally, which comprises a couple of evaluations, such as image perception, national development, and its level of civility in terms of behavioural conformity with legal principles as codified in both domestic and international laws, among others. The transition to civil rule in May 29, 1999, ushered in the Fourth Republic and manifested a remarkable watershed in the annals of Nigeria history. This has brought with it a new phase of reintegrating Nigeria, among the comity of nations globally, with a renew faith in utilizing both internal and external dynamics as the ultimate solution to image crisis and high level of maltreatment bequeathed to the country by the military (Adeola & Ogunoiki, 2015; Alli, 2010; Zabadi, 2012).

Specifically, Obasanjo’s efforts in the Nigeria project were manifest when he reversed the Nigeria’s pariah status and reintegrated Nigeria back to global reckoning (Aleyomi & Abu Bakar, 2015; Aleyomi, 2017). Consequently, to consolidate on his predecessor’s wave of a „new‟ Nigeria, the Yar‟Adua administration introduced citizen-oriented diplomacy as a thrust of foreign policy in 2007. Foreign policy is the basis for external relations of any given social formation through the internal dynamics of that formation for achieving certain interest that is national in configuration that all-encompassing the populace. Therefore, a state’s external relation, which otherwise refers to as foreign policy, is absolutely an indispensable tool for image building and national development (Aleyomi & Abu Bakar, 2015; Bulley, 2014; Cantir & Kaarbo, 2012; Oppermann & Spencer, 2013).

Indeed, as a platform for engagement in the global system, every nation state, irrespective of its level of development, has been giving immense important to foreign policy. From time immemorial, the focus of Nigeria’s foreign policy has oscillated between Africa, global world, higher status for Nigeria, economic prosperity and the Nigerian citizen (Aleyomi, 2017). In addition, throughout history, Nigeria’s image has fluctuated between positivity and negativity, good and bad. Since independence in October 1 1960 to date, the objectives of Nigeria’s foreign policy in relations with the rest of the international community reflects its determinations to promote and defend Africa’s interests while at the same time ensuring the defense of its national interest and domestic development (Adejumobi, 2016; Cooper & Flemes, 2013; Eze, 2010).

These foreign policy objectives as highlighted by Sir Tafawa Balewa, the only Prime Minister of Nigeria, predicated on the national interest of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its citizens (Amao & Okeke-Uzodike, 2015; Osuntokun, 2013). National interest is the thread that runs through both domestic and external policies. This underscores the thrust of the linkage school (Okeke & Aniche, 2014). Undoubtedly, Africa remains the cornerstone and centerpiece of Nigeria’s external relations, but the role and significance of the national interest towards the quest of Nigeria’s Afrocentric thrust has oscillated between activism and docility. The perception that the Nigeria government treats its citizens‟ plight/interest as secondary, has been (and remains) valid in the minds of many local and foreign scholars of Nigeria polity (Bach, 2013; Obi, 2008).

Statement of the problem

This point of view, though contested, was borne out of what appeared as inadequate attention paid to many Nigerian nationals abroad. This might be a possible rationale for citizen diplomacy. On the other related hands, Akinboye (2013) posits that Nigeria has executed various foreign policies, which tended to be beautiful abroad but ugly at home. It is axiomatic that while Nigeria has been exhibiting acts of benevolence abroad, but suffers such act at home. Besides, another possible reason might also be to seek to respond to new challenges of globalization. Whatever the case, the most important factor which is very crux to this study is the „newness‟ of citizen diplomacy, its misunderstanding and/or its challenges of its application towards actualization of Nigeria project in the Fourth Republic, a time when Nigeria is touting its rebranding ethos and image building. Based on this background that this study examines the place of citizen diplomacy, as a new thrust, in the conduct of Nigeria’s external relations, with keen interest on what it has covered and those yet to be considered. More significantly, the paper is poised to highlight the Nigeria state and the challenges of foreign citizens. Using Kano metropolis as a case study

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