Abstract

FOREIGN POLICY UNDER NIGERIA'S PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OYE OGUNBADEJO ROADLY speaking, every newly elected regime should have a rough idea B of the sort of foreign policy that it would like to pursue. In the case of Shagari's Nigeria, however, the problem of formulating and managing the country's external relations seemed to have been compounded by the intro- duction of a completely new political system, fashioned as it were, on the American presidential model. Yet, when this mode of government was being adopted, it was widely believed that it would be quite easy to run* but trying to adjust to the new system has had its impact on public policies, not least, the country's foreign policy. To be able to pursue an efficient foreign policy the country's institutions and other instruments concerned with external relations must not only know how to function—that is, how to go about performing their basic functions effectively—but must also be adequate. Furthermore, they should have all the necessary in-built safety devices, capable of arresting whatever political shock waves that might develop within the system. In this regard, some of the necessary institutional supports, which the Federal Nigerian Government requires, are non-existent; and those in existence