THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY 2020 – 2024 : CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the global landscape, reshaping international relations and national policies across the world. This paper examines the impact of the pandemic on Nigeria's foreign policy, analyzing both the Opportunities it created and the challenges it pFederal Presented. The study adopted the Realist theory and employed qualitative method in its method of data collection and analysis, the study highlights how the crisis disrupted Nigeria's oil-dependent economy, hindered traditional diplomatic engagements, and exacerbated security concerns. However, it also explores how Nigeria leveraged its regional leadership role, strengthened its digital diplomacy, and advanced health diplomacy through collaborations such as the COVAX initiative. The paper argues that the pandemic, while posing significant challenges, also provided Nigeria with a platform to diversify its economy, deepen regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and enhance its global diplomatic presence. By utilizing a qualitative research methodology, this study assesses Nigeria's evolving foreign policy strategies during and after the pandemic, concluding that Nigeria must adapt its diplomatic framework to address future global challenges. The findings underscore the importance of economic diversification, digital diplomacy, and multilateral engagement in ensuring Nigeria's resilience and global influence in a post-pandemic world. The paper recommended that, Nigerian is foreign policy need to undergo strategic adjustment to enhance the county’s global influence, foster economic growth and address security concerns in the international system.