The Hegemon's Role: Nigeria's Foreign Policy and Its Impact on West African Regional Security and Cooperation.

The paper examines Nigeria's foreign policy and its impact on West African regional security and cooperation. As a regional hegemon, Nigeria has played a crucial role in shaping the security and cooperation landscape in West Africa. Nigeria's foreign policy is driven by its desire to promote regional stability, security, and cooperation. The country has been at the forefront of advancing the strategic interests of the region, both at the continental and global levels. Nigeria's leadership role in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been instrumental in promoting regional cooperation and security. However, Nigeria's regional hegemonic aspiration has been a subject of criticism. This study aims to provide an analysis of Nigeria's foreign policy and its efforts on West African regional security and cooperation. The paper relied on a secondary method of data gathering technique. The paper unravelled that Nigeria remains committed to ECOWAS and its goals. The country maintained leadership roles in promoting regional integration and development, and its economic and military contributions remain essential to the West African success. The paper concluded that Nigeria's leadership and commitment will be crucial in achieving her hegemon in West-Africa subregion.