Abstract:
This study examines Nigeria’s foreign policy through the Concentric Circles Theory, offering a structured framework for understanding how domestic, regional, continental, and global priorities are sequenced. While the existing literature documents Nigeria’s leadership in West Africa and the African Union, and its engagement with global institutions, there remains limited analysis of how hierarchical prioritization and Afrocentric principles are consistently operationalized across all four concentric circles. Addressing this gap, the study assesses Nigeria’s application of the theory, evaluating how Afrocentric commitments influence decision-making in regional engagements within ECOWAS, continental initiatives through the African Union, and global diplomatic outreach. Employing a historical and explorative qualitative research design, data were sourced from high-ranking policy documents and scholarly literature and subjected to rigorous thematic analysis guided by the Concentric Circles Theory. Findings reveal that Nigeria prioritizes domestic security and immediate neighbors, operationalizes Afrocentric principles through peacekeeping, mediation, and economic initiatives, and strategically engages multilateral and bilateral partners to project influence while maintaining Africa-focused objectives. Challenges persist in coordination, long-term sustainability, and measurable outcomes at continental and global levels. The study recommends institutional strengthening and systematic monitoring of foreign policy actions. By linking theory with empirical evidence, the research contributes to scholarship in history, international studies, political science, and policy-making, and identifies future avenues for investigating Nigeria’s global strategic adaptation and the operationalization of the fourth concentric circle in a multipolar world.
Keywords: Afrocentrism, African Union, Concentric cycles, Global strategic priorities, ECOWAS Foreign policy
DOI: 10.36349/sokotojh.2026.v14i01.015
author/Muazu Alkali Bello & Abdulateef Femi Usman
journal/Sokoto JH | Vol. 14, Issue 1 | Dec. 2026
