Project Abstract

Abstract
The integration of West African states has been a significant goal for regional development and stability. Nigeria, as the most populous country in West Africa and one of the largest economies on the continent, plays a crucial role in this integration process. This research project aims to examine the multifaceted role of Nigeria in the integration of West African states, focusing on political, economic, and security dimensions. In the political sphere, Nigeria's historical leadership role in the region, exemplified by its participation in peacekeeping missions and conflict resolution efforts, has been instrumental in fostering regional cooperation. Nigeria's diplomatic engagement with other West African countries through organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has helped in promoting democracy, good governance, and collective decision-making within the region. Economically, Nigeria's position as an economic powerhouse in West Africa has enabled it to drive regional trade and investment. By leveraging its market size and resources, Nigeria has been able to influence regional economic policies and initiatives aimed at fostering intra-regional trade and economic growth. The country's participation in trade agreements such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) has facilitated economic integration and cooperation among West African states. In the security domain, Nigeria's role in addressing regional security challenges, such as terrorism, transnational crime, and maritime piracy, has been critical for ensuring stability in West Africa. Nigeria's military capabilities and its contributions to regional security initiatives, such as the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram, have demonstrated its commitment to addressing security threats that affect the entire region. Furthermore, Nigeria's cultural influence, as a diverse and culturally rich country, has also played a role in promoting social integration and cohesion among West African states. Through cultural exchanges, educational programs, and people-to-people interactions, Nigeria has contributed to the development of a shared West African identity and a sense of belonging among the region's diverse populations. Overall, this research project seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria's role in the integration of West African states, highlighting the country's contributions to political stability, economic development, security cooperation, and cultural integration within the region.

Project Overview

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Nigeria since independence has been playing a significant leadership role in the West Africa and indeed the African continent. Africa has remained the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy since independence in 1960. The Nigerian government have consistently accorded special attention to the plight and conditions of her neighbours in Africa, which has made the basic principles of Nigeria’s foreign policy “Afro centric” and that of its brother’s keeper.

The vision of Nigeria as it regards Nigeria’s relationships with the outside world is well documented in the country’s constitution. Nigeria’s foreign policy thrust is concentric in nature taking into cognizance three major levels of international relationships. The first level is the immediate neighbourhood of West Africa, followed by the second level, which is Africa and then the third level, which is the world at large. One motive that influenced the creation of almost all the West African International Governmental Organizations (IGOs) is the unity which has its origin in the Pan-African movements (UNECA 1983). According to Essien (2006) efforts at regional and sub-regional integration in Africa go back to the immediate post-colonial period. It was seen as an extension of the liberation movements and an effort to construct geographic entities that were economically viable and politically united. It also reflected the prevailing European experience with its emphasis on free trade within a Common External Tariff area. Thus, Anadi (2012) observed that, “by the 1960’s when most of the West African states gained their independence, the realities of the enormous distortions inherent in the colonial economy came to the fore.

            First, they were utterly left with highly fragile and structurally truncated economies based on the export of one or two agricultural commodities with inherent price distortions in the international commodity market. Also, the fact that none of these states’ national currencies were convertible further worsened the already destabilizing balance of payments problems in both their trade within the region and in their trade with other regions of the world” (Anadi 2005). The founding fathers of ECOWAS were quite aware of the huge challenges that confronted them at independence, following the years of unbridled exploitation and utter neglect of the basic needs of the citizens by the colonial masters; Britain, France and Portugal. Consequently, successful nation building has remained the biggest challenge for them because their economies are small, weak and highly competitive.

Accordingly, they were unable to exploit the complementarities of big and strong economies and are equally incapable of competing effectively within the global economy. These realities made regional integration an attractive option for West Africa. Undeniably, also, globalisation processes have brought home forcefully to the region the reality that it is impossible for any country, including the most economically and politically powerful, to go it alone. Now, more than ever before, all countries need one another to survive in a world where states are intricately weaved together economically, politically and technologically, with significant externalities for those that are unable to catch the globalisation train  (Sesay and Omotosho 2011). They also argue that contemporary integration schemes, particularly those in Africa, are essentially a post-World War II phenomenon.