Terrorism and Diplomacy: An Assessment of Insecurity and Its Implications for Nigeria’s External Relations Under President Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023)

Abstract

Since Boko Haram appeared in the early 2000s, terrorism has remained a stubborn challenge for Nigeria, decisively influencing the state’s foreign policy and international diplomacy. This thesis investigates how escalating insecurity shaped Nigeria’s external engagements during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, spanning 2015 to 2023. The guiding questions are: (1) how insecurity altered Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities and multilateral interactions; and (3) how Nigeria’s diplomatic manoeuvres are explained from both Realist and Liberalist perspectives. Employing a qualitative, descriptive-analytical design anchored in secondary literature, the analysis demonstrates that insecurity undermined Nigeria’s posture of regional leadership, created friction with Western partners wary of human rights lapses, and encouraged a pragmatic, interest-driven turn toward China. The research finds that terrorism ultimately refocused Nigeria’s diplomatic energy on security imperatives, often overshadowing comprehensive developmental and humanitarian agendas. The study recommends fortifying domestic governance, overhauling the security architecture, and pursuing a more balanced diplomatic posture to restore Nigeria’s standing in the international arena.