Terrorism, Security Challenge and Implications on Nigeria’s Good Neighbourliness

Abstract

Nigeria lies between five francophone countries with geo strategic and security implications. In this wise, Nigeria’s good neighbuorliness becomes an important political framework of interest.  International terrorism since the wake of the 11^th September attack on America has metacised into local terrorism perpetrated by the Boko Haram group in the case of Nigeria. Boko Haram terrorism has been internationalized with linkages with Isis and has spread its tentacles beyond the shores of Nigeria into neighbouring states of Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. Since Independence, Nigeria has wittingly dwelt within a choking Franco phony politics of survival.  She had maintained a policy of good neighbouliness that has cost her continued friendship with France and economic openness to assist the African neighbours a breeding air of survival.  In the wake of the new politics of international terrorism and with the spread of terrorist activities beyond the Nigerian borders into neighbouring States, this policy (good neighbourliness) becomes an agenda for analytical consideration. This is the relevance of this research paper which considers Nigeria’s security challenge as implicative on good neighbouliness. The paper argues that, the security of Nigeria and its neighbours are negatively implicated and that this political framework (good neighbourliness) needs to be reviewed to take care of new arising challenges.

Keywords: Good Neighbourliness, Security Challenge, Terrorism, Nigeria.