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Difficulty: MediumFormulation and Evolution of Nigeria's Foreign Policy Across Regimes

During the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), the reluctance of traditional Western allies such as Britain and the United States to supply heavy military hardware to the Federal Military Government led to a significant shift in Nigeria's external relations. How did the administration of General Yakubu Gowon adapt Nigeria's foreign policy to overcome this diplomatic challenge?

  1. A
    By withdrawing from the Commonwealth of Nations and adopting a policy of complete continental isolationism.
  2. By shifting away from an exclusively pro-Western alignment and establishing military procurement ties with the Soviet Union.Answer
  3. C
    By signing a mutual defence pact with the Organisation of African Unity to deploy a joint continental peacekeeping force.
  4. D
    By immediately nationalising all British and American corporate assets in Nigeria to compel Western military assistance.

Answer

By shifting away from an exclusively pro-Western alignment and establishing military procurement ties with the Soviet Union.
The correct answer is supported by historical evidence showing that during the 1967–1970 Civil War, Western reluctance to supply heavy weapons prompted General Yakubu Gowon's administration to diversify Nigeria's foreign policy by establishing strategic diplomatic and military purchasing relations with the Soviet Union.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical regime and context
General Yakubu Gowon led the Federal Military Government during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970).
Understanding the specific administration and external pressures is essential for analyzing foreign policy decisions.
2
Analyze the foreign policy response to Western hesitation
When Britain restricted arms supply and the United States maintained an arms embargo, Nigeria turned to non-traditional allies, particularly the Soviet Union.
Pragmatic national survival forced Nigeria to move beyond its post-independence pro-Western stance to secure required military equipment.
3
Evaluate the policy evolution outcome
Nigeria established functional military and economic ties with Eastern Bloc nations while remaining officially non-aligned.
This marked a major turning point in the practical implementation of Nigeria's non-aligned foreign policy.

Key Concept

Evolution of Nigeria's foreign policy under the Gowon administration during the Nigerian Civil War
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Formulation and Evolution of Nigeria's Foreign Policy Across Regimes