Resource Availability and Foreign Policy Change in Nigeria: The Impact of Oil

1 See Karl Deutsch , “Imperialism and Neo-Colonialism,” Peace Science and Society Papers (Vienna, Austria), Vol. 23, 1974, 1938).

2 See contributions to Charles K. Wilbur , The Policital Economy of Development and Underdevelopment (New York, 1973), Armstrong “The Political Consequences of Economic Dependence,” Vol. 25, no 3, September 1981. See also the works of Andre Gunder Frank, Samir Amin and Fernado Cardoso.

3 Blau P.M. , Exchange and Power in Social Life (New York, 1964), p. 118.

4 Jaja Wachuku , House of Representatives Debates (Lagos), January 1960 col. 54.

5 Cowan L. Gray ; “Nigerian Foreign Policy,” in Tilman R.O. Taylor Cole (Eds.), Nigerian Political Scene (Durham, 1962), p. 116.

6 Olajide Aluko , “Nigeria's Role in Inter-African Relations With Special Reference to the OAU,” African Affairs (London), Vol. 72, no. 287, April 1973, p. 162.

7 Federal Republic of Nigeria, Second National Development Plan 1970–74, Government Printer, Lagos, 1970, p. 32.

8 General Yakubu Gowon , Fourteenth Independence Anniversary Address to the Nation, New Nigerian (Lagos and Kaduna, Nigeria), 3 October 1975, p. 12.

9 See Julius O. Ihonvbere , “Integration in a Dependent Regional Economy: Goals and Problems of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).” M.A. Research Essay, School of International Affairs, Carleton University, Ottawa, May 1980.

10 John Kwadjo , “Collective Self-Reliance or Collective Neo-Colonialism?” West Africa (London), 15 September 1980.

11 Adebayo Adedeji , “Collective Self-Reliance in Developing Africa: Scope, Prospects and Problems,” Keynote Address at the International Conference on ECOWAS, Lagos, 1976. p. 19.

12 Chief Henry Fajemirokun , “The Role of the West African Chambers of Commerce in the Formation of ECOWAS,” New Nigerian, 22 November 1976. The Nigerian Chamber was founded in 1888 as the Lagos Chambers of Commerce. Prior to World War II, it was exclusively dominated by foreign capital with the support of the colonial state. The nationalist movement that emerged after the war and the strategy of foreign capital, aimed at winning the support of the indigenous elite, led to the incorporation of some Nigerians into the Chambers. By 1969, nine years after political independence, Nigerian companies, mainly commercial or trading enterprises, constituted about 25 per cent of the Chambers' membership. At the end of the civil war in 1970, seventeen of the thirty members of the national excutive were Nigerians. But the important standing committees and trade groups remained firmly in the hands of foreign enterprises leaving the small businessman and tourism committees to Nigerians. The Organisation of Nigerian Indigenous Businessmen broke off from the Chambers in 1970 in protest against its domination by foreign interests. It is importants to note that this indigenous group did not get the support of the Nigerian state. It therefore remained weak and outcompeted in the national market.

13 General Olusegun Obasanjo Speech at the official commissioning of the Peugeot Automobile (Nigeria) Limited, Kaduna Nigeria, 14 March 1975.

14 Alhaji Shehu Shagari , Address to the 35th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Reproduced in New Times (Lagos, Nigeria), mid-October, 1980. p. 13.

15 Ibid.

16 Ibid.

17 See “Nigeria Moves Against Apartheid,” West Africa 29 August 1977.

18 Senator Nwafor Orizu Cited in Segun Osoba, “The Nigeria Power Elite,” in Gutkind P. Waterman P. (Eds.), African Social Studies: A Radical Reader (New York, 1977), p. 374.

19 Olajide Aluko , “The Civil War and Nigerian Foreign Policy,” Political Quaterly (London), Vol. 42, 1971 p. 186.

20 “Nigeria Moves Against Apartheid,” n. 17.

21 General Olusegun Obasanjo , Address to the 15th Ordinary Session of the Organisation of African Unity—Assembly of Heads of State and Government, Khartoum, July 1978. Reproduced in Africa Currents (Huntington, England), Nos. 12/13, Autumn/Winter, 1978 p. 9.

22 Ibid., p. 10.

23 “Nigeria on French Policy,” Africa Currents, no. 9, Summer 1977, p. 28.

24 Paul Ahebi , “Nigeria: Relations With the Super Powers,” Radio Lagos, Nigeria, 18 March 1976.

25 Alhaji Shehu Shagari , “Nigerian Oil as a Weapon,” West Africa, 24 March 1980.

26 See James Mayal , “Oil and Nigerian Foreign Policy,” African Affairs, Vol. 74, no. 300, July 1976 p. 325.

27 President Shehu Shagari , Twentieth Independence Anniversary Speech, 1 October 1980. Reproduced in News From Nigeria, Nigeria High Commission, Ottawa, Canada, 30 September 1980, p. 3. (Emphasis added).

28 Bolaji Akinyemi , “Introduction” in Akinyemi B. , Nigeria and the World: Readings in Nigerian Foreign Policy (Ibadan; 1978), p. XI.

29 General Olusegun Obasanjo , New Year Broadcast to the Nation, Monday, 1 January 1979, Lagos: Federal Ministry of Information, 1979. p. 8.

30 “Nigeria's Foreign Policy in the 80s,” New Times, no. 14, p. 27.

31 “Shagari's Presidency Gathers Momentum,” Ibid., p. 4.