FOREIGN POLICY AS COUNTERINSURGENCY: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE BUHARI ADMINISTRATION’S EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO NIGERIA’S SECURITY CRISIS

Abstract

Confronted with a protracted security crisis characterized by large-scale insurgency, Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari, who assumed office in May 2015, witnessed a renewed commitment to combating Boko Haram insurgency and related security threats that had severely undermined national stability and tarnished the country's international image. In line with his campaign promises, President Buhari placed counterinsurgency at the core of his foreign policy agenda, actively engaging diplomacy in both bilateral and multilateral levels to secure strategic military partnerships. This was aimed at complementing domestic security operations through intelligence-sharing, logistical support, and capacity-building initiatives. With the completion of his eight-year tenure on May 29, 2023, it becomes imperative to undertake a critical academic assessment of the foreign policy dimensions of Buhari administration and its effectiveness in addressing Nigeria’s internal security challenges, particularly in the northern part of the country. This reflection is mostly pertinent in evaluating whether President Buhari fulfilled the expectations set during his 2015 electoral campaign. This study adopted an ex-post facto research design, enabling a critical analysis of events and policies after their occurrence without manipulating variables. It employed the documentary method of data collection, drawing exclusively on secondary sources such as government records, international agreements, policy documents, academic literature, and credible media reports. Data were analysed using content and thematic analysis, allowing for a critical interrogation of the patterns, narratives, and strategic alignments in Nigeria’s foreign policy and their impact on counterinsurgency in Nigeria. The study found that the Buhari administration’s foreign policy, though initially effective in securing external military support and achieving tactical gains against insurgents, ultimately failed to sustain long-term security due to its largely militarised approach. It concluded that the lack of integrated domestic reforms and adaptive security mechanisms weakened the impact of these foreign engagements. The study recommended a holistic strategy that aligns foreign policy with internal socio-political reforms, regional cooperation, indigenous defence development, and human security priorities.