Giving Peace a Chance in Nigeria: The Case for a Preventive Diplomacy

Abstract

The sovereign nation Nigeria, within the international community is popular not necessarily for its strength as Africa’s most endowed nation in wealth and population but for its anomalous state owing to occasional religious, and ethnopolitical crises - thus posing threats both to sub-regional, regional and world peace.   This article argues that peace needs to be given a chance in Nigeria through preventive diplomacy. It would include learning from dialogue and diplomacy through peacebuilding approaches like negotiations and mediations; and from best practices in international relations and public international law. It urges the Federal Republic of Nigeria to carry out some reforms such as building and strengthening its democratic principles and restructuring its system of federalism, or as a last resort allow Biafra and other agitating regions to secede peacefully according to law. To carry out either of these, the article encourages intense collaboration between intergovernmental, state and non-governmental actors – those that have the power to settle and implement agreements.

Keywords: Preventive diplomacy, Peacebuilding, International community