ABSTRACR
The main objectives of this study is to find out the relationship and impact of Nigeria on other African state; specifically the study intends to Investigate the history of Nigeria relationship between Nigeria and Africa, Find out role of Nigeria on the development of some other Africa countries, Find out the impediment to a better relationship between Nigeria and other African countries and proffer. Despite the resources Nigeria is blessed with, the economy of Nigeria is still very poor. The recovery in the second half of the past decade, economic conditions in Nigeria remain highly fragile. Only a handful of countries in SSA have been able to combine relatively rapid growth with rising domestic investment and savings, but even in their case economic performance continues to depend heavily on conditions beyond their control, including commodity prices, capital flows, weather and political stability in their neighbourhood.Projections for the region under recent trends with respect to key variables such as capital flows, terms of trade, and investment and savings rates, as well as growth prospects in the rest of the world economy, give around 3 per cent growth per annum for the first decade of the new millennium.42 Not only is this well below the rate of growth needed to attain the poverty reduction target set by the international community, but it is also considerably less than the growth rates projected for other developed and developing regions, implying further marginalization of Nigeria in the African economy.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study Nigeria has been an active member of the African union and Ecowas since inception and as such has actively been involved in the formulation, implementation and guidance of the union’s policies. There have been scholarly studies that address Nigeria’s diplomacy and contribution to AU albeit many authors have failed to explain how these bode with the socio-economic development of Nigeria. There have been few instances where attempts were made to explain such, yet a fully-fledged analysis lacked in their conclusions. For example, contributors such as Okereke (2012) and Gusau (2013) limited their analysis to only Nigeria and AU but failed to recognize the contradiction of Nigeria’s diplomacy and contribution with Nigeria’s socio-economic condition. There is no doubt that many more studies are required in this direction so as to beef up the scant literature that currently exists. We are therefore convinced that this paper makes a worthwhile contribution to literature on the subject. This possibility adds some value in enriching the literature on Nigeria and AU with a reflection on how Nigeria under AU platform has reflected on its socioeconomic condition. Although the Brunt land Report on Sustainable was released in 1987 , Nigerian leaders had before this time made concerted efforts aimed at sustainable development not only for the benefit of Nigeria but also for Africa. On October 1st, 1960, the Nigerian Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubarkar Tafawa Balewa while delivering a maiden independence speech to mark Nigerian’s arrival as an independent sovereign nation after decades of British colonial rule said among other things that he felt “sure that history will show that the building of our nation proceeded at the wisest pace… upon firm foundations”. Apart from addressing urgent national issues, Sir Balewa went international by declaring that Nigeria and Nigerians would, …not be allowed the selfish luxury of focusing our interest on our homes… In these days of rapid communications we cannot live in isolation apart from the rest of the world even if we wish to do so. This great country finds that she must at once be ready to deal with grave international issues… we must at once play an active part in maintaining the peace of the world and in preserving civilization. With these pronouncements, Prime Minister Balewa did not only open a new chapter in the history of Nigeria and indeed of the world but also set a road map that would guide successive Nigerian governments. The pronouncements were developed into Nigerian foreign policy towards Africa. Nigeria regards Africa as the center-piece of its foreign policy, West Africa being the crucial sector of the piece. Viewing historiographical, what seems to have run through Balewa’.
