Racing Against the Tide? A Critique of Nigeria’s Quest for Membership of the United Nations Security Council

Sunday Omotuyi
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Sunday Omotuyi: Sunday Omotuyi (PhD) is a Lecturer in the Department of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he teaches courses on Nigerian Foreign Policy, International Relations of East and Central Africa, and Development Problems in the Third World and Foreign Policies of the Great Powers. He bagged his Doctoral Degree in the Department of International Relations at Obafemi Awolowo University in 2018. He is a member of the Editorial Board of Ife Journal of International Affairs. He is a Visiting Scholar at the University of Edinburgh through Catalyst Fellowship, 2019. He has published in various national and international journals focusing on Nigerian foreign Policy, security in Africa, Boko Haram terrorism and Franco/African relations.

India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, 2021, vol. 77, issue 3, 346-365

Abstract: The recent vigorous campaign by Nigerian government for a permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council is, like previous attempts, hinged on the country’s ‘track record’ in peacekeeping operations. However, in recent years, particularly since the uprising of the Boko Haram terrorist group, it appears that Nigeria’s commitment to this role has diminished considerably in its foreign policy priorities. This article, against this background, makes three arguments: First, it argues that Nigeria’s reluctance to keep faith with its peacekeeping mission is undermining the critical platform under which the quest for the seat is based. Second, notwithstanding the possession of the realist’s attributes of a regional leader, Nigeria’s poor image and dearth of soft power has created legitimacy crisis for it among regional states and beyond as none of its traditional allies in the Security Council has thrown its weight behind its bid. Finally, the study shows that the preponderance number of Nigerians does not subscribe to Nigeria’s bid in view of the security and socio-economic crises battling the country. Rather than dissipating energy on the quest, such effort should be channelled towards addressing the myriad domestic challenges threatening human security in the country.

Keywords: Peacekeeping; Security Council; Nigeria; external relations; Africa; security (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:indqtr:v:77:y:2021:i:3:p:346-365

DOI: 10.1177/09749284211027251

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