Current Issues in Nigeria’s Foreign Policy and the Challenge of Image Perception

Source: THISDAY LIVE

Nigeria’s international image is currently shaped by perceptions predicated on neglected factors of misjudgments. The misjudgments are largely a resultant of some on-going critical issues in Nigeria’s foreign policy which vary from the economic and social to the political and military all of which have the potential of giving a bad name to the Government and people of Nigeria. The most critical issues are insecurity (Boko Haramism, with its deepening associated problems of internally displaced peoples and Biafranisation, with its associated threats of disintegration); economic (depreciating and devaluation of the Naira, declining foreign reserves, and declining crude oil price); social and health (outbreak of killer diseases such as lassa fever).

The most critical observation from the public is the perception that President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) is not sitting down to address domestic questions and that even when he travels out he uses the occasion to run down the country of which he is the first ambassador by blaming Nigerians and asking them to return home. This observation is unfortunate as little or no attention is paid to the complexity of political governance and the need for PMB to seek international understanding and assistance in the quest for solutions to Nigeria’s problems.

For instance, of all the critical issues, that of how to contain boko haramism in the North East of Nigeria has attracted much attention than others, not simply because of the insecurity it engenders but particularly because of the new dimension it has revealed in the anti-corruption struggle. It is useful to recall here that it is the refusal of some soldiers to fight the Boko Haram with poor equipment, which not only led to sanctions against them but also the need to investigate why there was the problem of poor kitting of the protesting soldiers, that quickly prompted what is now known as ‘Dasukigate’. Explained differently, the public reactions, especially those in support of the soldiers, partly influenced PMB to seek understanding of the complaints by the soldiers in an attempt to showcase the readiness of the PMB administration as a listening government, and its readiness to accept the promotion of exemplary good governance in which the values of transparency, accountability, self-discipline, and loyalty are underscored. The quest for these values led to the investigation of how and why the $2.1 billion earmarked by the Goodluck Jonathan-led government for the acquisition of arms and weapons to fight the Boko Haram, was not utilized for the purpose for which it was appropriated.

In terms of Nigeria’s image, many world leaders appreciate the anti-corruption drive of Government and have invited PMB to come and discuss areas of further possible collaboration, a situation that requires more international travels but which many Nigerians at the domestic level criticize, arguing that PMB is travelling around the world and not sitting down to address national security questions back home. Whereas the much attention the anti-corruption is generating is, indeed, first prompted by the quest for security or sustainment of the anti-Boko Haram war, meaning that the fight against corruption and insecurity has to go parri passu. Several questions are raised in this regard: when will boko haramism be a thing of the past in Nigeria? Will there be an end to the institutionalised corruption in Nigeria? Can PMB really fulfill his campaign promises? In whichever way the questions are answered, the truth remains that Nigeria is being presented negatively to the world. Impressions of government’s incapacity and inability to deal decisively with the various issues are given. Government will therefore urgently need to address this problem of wrong perception which has the potential of tainting Nigeria’s international image beyond repairs. In this regard, for instance, the truth is that many foreign companies, registered as Nigerian companies, have become catalytic agents of corruption and lawlessness in the country. The case of the MTN, a telecommunication firm, is noteworthy.

MTN’s Lawlessness in Nigeria
The Federal Government of Nigeria ordered all telecommunication service providers to document the particulars of all their subscribers, especially for purposes of national security and planning. The MTN did not comply and simply left over 5 million telephone lines unregistered. Consequently, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) sanctioned the MTN with a fine of N1.04 trillion for infringing on its regulations. The MTN acknowledged its guilt and therefore pleaded for leniency. The fine was reduced to N780 billion.
However, the MTN took for granted Government’s understanding and good disposition and refused to pay the fine by engaging the services of a former US Attorney-General, Mr. Eric Holder, to seek a legal solution when it has become apparent that PMB and the NCC cannot be influenced to condone the undermining of Nigeria’s national interest in whatever manner. The MTN probably has not woken up to the idea that the era of bribing government official to promote anti-Nigeria interests has been thrown into the dustbin of history under the PMB administration. The MTN has admitted that it did not register millions of Nigerian subscribers but still does not want to pay the penalty for its disregard for the law or wants the fine reduced.  Who has authority in Nigeria: the MTN or the NCC? By seeking the legal intervention of a former US attorney general, does the MTN expect the NCC to do away with its own decision?

The non-registration of the exact number of its subscribers, a development that directly undermines national security and revenue generation means that the MTN does not intend to pay full tax. This is how many companies in Nigeria under-develop Nigeria. The MTN is reportedly currently seeking an out-of-court solution. In this regard, Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed March 18, 2016 for the hearing of the case. If settlement out-of-court is agreed to, three optional outcomes are possible: non-sanction on the basis of government-to government intervention, which is remote; further reduction of the fine, on the basis of questionable compromise; and giving a soft landing to the MTN by settlement the Nigerian way which again is not likely. How will the NCC explain the dynamic of the new compromise? Will it imply that the basis of the sanction was not justifiable ab initio? Whatever is the case, the image of the NCC is at stake in the long run, as the anti-corruption and societal ills efforts of the PMB administration are likely to suffer great setbacks.

It is useful to remind us about one Associate Research Professor who lodged a complaint five months ago at the Bar Beach Police Station, Victoria Island, that his life was under threat and that his Chief Executive was the main suspect. The professor had been issued queries bordering on serious misconduct in his office but was being protected by some ethnic chauvinists, by people who openly preach the gospels of anti-corruption and indiscipline and of course who are supposed to uphold national integrity and interest but to no avail. Under the fear of being killed by his Chief Executive, the professor sought police protection. When asked to explain the manner of the death threat, the professor simply said he received telephone calls and text messages. The telephone line used was reportedly that of the MTN. For about five months now, the Bar Beach police has not been able to identify the owner of the line, reportedly because the MTN has not responded to the police enquiry on the particulars of the owner of the line.

The implication of non-identification of the true owner of the line is multidimensional. First, there is no room to know whether or not the Chief Executive is criminally oriented. Secondly, no room is given to ascertain whether the professor is simply a liar because it is on record that he does not have integrity of purpose in his office. Thirdly, being an associate professor, he may also want to test the capacity of the police to detect crimes. Fourthly, the image of the Chief Executive has meanwhile been soiled at the altar of suspicion mainly because of the alleged remissness of the MTN. Fifthly and perhaps most importantly, the remissness directly threatens national security as many people not only telephone but also send text messages to people, threatening to kill them if they do not do certain things. As the telephone lines used by the underworld men are not registered, the task of ensuring national security is unnecessarily made difficult for the security agencies. In fact, government and its agencies are blamed but no one bothers to point accusing fingers at the MTN and other service providers.

Social and militaro-economic Downturm
The social and economic problems currently facing the people of Nigeria are such that notable Nigerians are now calling for an emergency national economic conference to deal with the attendant problems. The call by Professor Wole Soyinka is noteworthy. And true enough, the economy is in a bad shape: the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Bond was de-listed from the JP Morgan Emerging Market Index in the last quarter of 2015. By implication, both equity and portfolio (hot money) investments have declined by 82.4% and 64% respectively. Besides, Nigeria’s total debt increased from N12.4 trillion in September 2015 and N11.2 trillion in December 2014 to N12.6 trillion ($65.42 billion) last year. As at last Friday, February 19, it was a dollar to N391= showing the extent to which the naira has depreciated.

At the social level, the World Health Organisation revealed on last February 4, which was set aside to commemorate the World Cancer Day, that cancer deaths have increased significantly in Nigeria: 30 Nigerian women were killed daily by breast cancer in 2008 as against 40 in 2012. Prostate cancer killed 14 Nigerian men daily in 2008 and 26 men in 2012. The situation of liver cancer is not different: it increased from 24 killings in 2008 to 32 in 2012. Added to this problem is the new saga of killer disease, lassa fever. Additionally, there is an outbreak of a strange disease, yet to be properly identified in the Otodo-Gbame Community of Ikate, Lekki area of Lagos State, which has been killing children. They develop rashes similar to measles and die two or three days after attack of the disease (The Punch, February 17, 2016, p.4). All these are issues that PMB must seek different platforms to explain to his counterparts and seek their assistance. They are problems that require extra Nigerian approaches.

Another issue is the 2016 budget over which there has been much controversy. A discrepancy in the original budget submitted to the National Assembly before defence and the one considered at the time of defence of the budget was noted. According to the Centre for Social Justice, on Monday, February 15, the sum of N668.86 billion expenditure was contained in the budget. It was  ‘frivolous, inappropriate, unclear and wasteful.’ The Minister of Finance also complained about the budget in the National Assembly at the time of the budget defence of his Ministry. For this reason, the 2016 budget has not been considered for approval.

International attention is currently also on the handling of the court case brought against the Senate President, Senator Saraki by the Code of Conduct Bureau in 2015 regarding a misinformation in his asset declaration. Some members of the National Assembly do not want Senator Saraki tried. The Nigerian public is saying that law is law and should be applied regardless of who is involved.

 Perhaps more cautiously, in an attempt to deal more decisively with the problem of Boko Haram, the Goodluck Jonathan administration reportedly engaged the services of mercenaries in the war against the deadliest terrorists, the Boko Haram but PMB was reported not to be much keen in the use of the mercenaries in neutralizing the Boko Haramists. The truth about mercenaries in international relations is that they often constitute powerful armies of resistance. In many cases, they are even more powerful than the national armies on whose sides they are fighting. In fact, as a result of their strength and military sophistication, they even plan coups and oust their host government. It is for this reason that the caution and non-interest of PMB should be appreciated. There should not be any need in promoting the interest of the mercenaries to the detriment of the national army. As many countries are monitoring security developments in Nigeria, the issue of mercenaries cannot but continue to shape the perception of Nigeria internationally. 

The essence of the foregoing is to show the complex issues in political governance and to also draw attention to the fact that a president cannot remain at home and not share ideas on these problems with others. This is where there is a major challenge for foreign policy.

Foreign Policy and Nigeria’s Image
Currently, Nigeria cannot be said to have a good or a bad image simply because the whole international community is still pretty much waiting for Nigeria’s foreign policy direction. Government’s foreign policy is at best still reactionary and more of routine. It is not programmatic. This partly explains why many people have been complaining about the too many foreign trips of Mr. President. Even though the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has made good efforts to explain and justify such visits, those efforts may not be sufficient.

In a joint press conference with the Minister of the Environment, Amina Muhammed and the Minister of State for the Environment, Jibril Ibrahim, last week, Lai Mohammed made it clear that PMB’s foreign visits had been used to address the challenges currently facing Nigeria. Besides, he posited that since Nigeria cannot be an island unto herself, being part and parcel of the world as a global village, Nigeria cannot operate on the basis of isolationism. Additionally, challenges with which Nigeria is faced are also being addressed in many other countries. Consequently, there is the need to share ideas on how to solve the problems. As he put it, ‘the two things that have been driving investments away from this country are terrorism and corruption. One thing that nobody can fault this President on is his determination to fight these two ills… [T]he investments that we make with the president’s travel is (sic) well worth the investment we are getting from those visits.’ Agreed, but to what extent do the people of Nigeria know about this? Is it not because they know little or nothing that there has been much outcry about the visits?

Foreign policy makers will need to be more forthcoming at the level of foreign policy education in Nigeria. Under normal setting, there is no reason why a visit of even the Minister of Foreign Affairs should not be made public. The contents of discussion and negotiations abroad can be kept secret but the purpose of visit, its advantages, expected support and roles of the public, as well as benefits for the people ought to be discussed generally by the public. It has become necessary to move away from the colonially-driven mentality in the public service to ensuring that foreign policy is predicated on citizen diplomacy in approach and redefining Bolaji Akinyemi’s Consultation Doctrine as a basis for a greater Nigeria and leadership in African affairs. It is by so doing that Nigeria’s international image can be made positive in an enduring manner.