Paradiplomacy in Nigeria

This chapter will examine the evolution of paradiplomacy in Nigeria, tracing its roots from the pre-independence era to its contemporary expressions in the Fourth Republic. It will argue that Nigerian sub-states’ current expressions of paradiplomacy represent a resurgence rather than an anomaly, reflecting the enduring tension between federal and subnational actors in Nigeria's evolving federation. Utilizing a historical institutionalist lens, the chapter will analyze how path dependencies and critical junctures - such as military interregnums and shifts in economic ideology - have shaped the institutional and legal frameworks governing Nigeria's foreign relations. It will also explore how exogenous factors such as globalization and neo-liberal economic imperatives have amplified the recent expression of Nigerian subnational governments in international affairs. By positioning Nigeria as a case study, the chapter aims to highlight the dissonance between the constitutional mandates of the central government, which has exclusive control over foreign affairs and the emerging paradiplomacy practices of subnational entities. It will further argue that the activities of Nigerian sub-states signify an archetype in African paradiplomatic expressions that do not conform to the conventions in the theories and practices of paradiplomacy found in other regions. Stemming from this latter point, the chapter will conclude by discussing the implications of Nigeria's evolving paradiplomatic landscape for the country's future in a more interconnected world, advocating for a nuanced and adaptive approach to foreign relations that acknowledges the complex nature of statehood and governance in the twenty-first century.