” The aim of the first paper is to provide an introduction to, and an outline of,
the foreign policy of black Africa’s most populous, most powerful and most influential state. Nigeria’s foreign policy is, in the words of Dr. Okoi Arikpo (Nigeria’s
Commissioner for External Affairs), “constructed in concentric circles”, radiating outwards from Nigeria’s immediate neighbours, to West Africa, to
Africa as a whole and thence to the world. Each of these will be considered in turn.” The second paper explains the establishment of ECOWAS. ” The Economic Community of West African States was formally established in
Lagos on 28 May 1975 with the initialling of the ECOWAS Treaty; the protocols annexed to the Treaty were ratified in November 1976, allowing the Community to commence functioning.”
