The consequences of military growth, military expenditures, and military political dominance on Nigerian foreign policy, 1960-1990

This study examines the consequences of three factors--military expenditures, military expansion, and hegemonic military control of state on Nigerian foreign policy. This combination of factors is explored to assess the roles of the military as an instrument of Nigerian foreign policy.;The findings of this study include the following: (1) Two significant factors stand out in Nigerian foreign policy: notable growth of Nigeria's military power in Africa; extensive military institutional expansion and long term control of the state, resulting in entrenched military vested interests, deep and enduring military penetration of all domestic social, economic and political structures and institutions. (2) Nigerian military capability produced the assumption that Nigeria holds hegemonic status as the foremost African state. (3) Nigeria's military created complex regional military arrangements, some stemming from direct intervention in the region. (4) Nigeria claims a right to lead Africa, and defend Nigerian interests through alliances, with maximum cooperation from African states. (5) Nigeria's responsibility to Africa is tied to Nigeria's domestic stability. (6) Nigeria has used its military option cautiously in Africa, in spite of its overt military interventions.;The conclusions that arise from this study are that Nigeria allocated large percentages of its national earnings to expanding military vested interests, state military capabilities and the willingness to use them. With such entrenched military control and penetration of society, the expanded roles of the military in foreign policy is expected to persist.;The framework takes the levels of military expenditures, military size, and the role of the military, in different time periods, as indicators for the development of Nigerian military leverage in foreign policy. Long periods of hegemonic military control of the state led to enormous expansions of the armed forces, domestic security agencies, roles, and the enlargement of Nigeria's regional objectives. The military option gave Nigeria the chance to pursue both broad based and specific objectives in the post-civil war era. The broader policy aims are specifically oriented towards achieving a regional order.