Humanities & Social Sciences 4 (2016 9) 708-721 ~ ~ ~ УДК 323.3(669) Nigerian Foreign Policy: a Fourth Republic Diplomatic Escapade Ebenezer Ejalonibu Lawala and Opeyemi Idowu Alukob a * Federal University Lokoja Kogi State Nigeria bUniversity of Ilorin Kwara State Nigeria Received 14.11.2015, received in revised form 02.12.2015, accepted 19.03.2016 Foreign policy is unpredictable and has no specifi c domestic or international boundary. <...> The concept of Africa as the centre-piece of Nigerian’s foreign policy has emerged as the most consistent theme that runs through her foreign policies in all the various regimes. <...> Foreign policy of Nigeria could be called a three concentric circle, this concentric circle clearly puts Nigeria’s interest fi rst, West African Sub-region second and then the rest of Africa. <...> It is very crucial to note that between 1960 and 1990, eighteen civil wars in Africa resulted in about 7 million deaths and spawned 5 million refugees. <...> This paper therefore seeks to critically analyze the core issues in Nigerian foreign policy and challenges facing Nigerian foreign policy in the fourth republic, some recommendations will also be suggested. <...> The objective of Nigeria Foreign Policy are enshrined in Chapter © Siberian Federal University. <...> Although a critical look at the Speeches shows the paramount importance government placed on the continental and global issues, it cannot be doubted that an overwhelming and signifi cant emphasis was placed on African that the Ebenezer Ejalonibu Lawal and Opeyemi Idowu Aluko. <...> Nigerian Foreign Policy: a Fourth Republic Diplomatic Escapade issues and problems. <...> Thus, during his UN acceptance speech, Balewa stated that; ‘So far I have concentrated on the problems of Africa. <...> Issues in nigerian foreign policy in the fourth republic Since the beginning of democratic dispensation also known as the present the fourth Republic there has been call for changes in the objectives and principles of Nigeria foreign policy as it was postulated by Alhaji (Dr) Sule Lamido, Foreign Minister Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria, 1999-2003 that; At the very onset therefore, one of the key priorities of the administration was to repair the damage that military rule had done <...>