AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF SECURITY CHALLENGES ON NIGERIA'S EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, 2015-2023

Abstract

Nigeria's security landscape has been marred by various challenges, ranging from the activities of Boko Haram, armed bandits, kidnappings, conflicts between herders and farmers, and the Niger Delta crisis. This paper adopts the Revisionist theory of national security as its theoretical framework to comprehensively analyze these security challenges and their far-reaching impact on Nigeria's external relations. Through an in-depth examination of secondary sources of data; books, scholarly journals, newspapers, and online materials, this study sheds light on the distinct issues presented by each of these phenomenal elements in various regions of Nigeria. This study emphasizes the urgency for the Nigerian government to take a comprehensive and non-politicized approach in addressing these security concerns. To uphold national security and foster positive diplomatic relations, the government must prioritize its fundamental duty of protecting the lives and property of its citizens. The federal government should utilise diplomacy and force where necessary to address these intractable issues.