File:United States-Nigeria relations- impact on Nigeria’s security (IA unitedstatesnige1094544629).pdf

This thesis examines how U.S.-Nigerian relations can be optimized to reduce the growing insecurity in Nigeria and reestablish Nigeria in the strategic calculus of ensuring Africa’s regional stability. It analyzes why U.S. security programs are not achieving their desired outcomes despite increased U.S. assistance. It also assesses the 2012 U.S. Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa and U.S. security programs with respect to Nigeria’s security challenges. The thesis reveals that poor outcomes are not due to program-problem mismatch, but due to the U.S. bureaucratic bottlenecks in Washington and the incapacity of the Nigerian security agencies. The underlying causes of insecurity in Nigeria, such as low literacy rates, poverty, and weak institutions, also impinge on the program. The remedies lie in repositioning Nigeria’s security agencies and building Nigeria’s institutions to address the underlying causes of insecurity. The U.S. government also needs to prioritize its humanitarian programs to address more specific problems.

Subjects: United States; Nigeria; Security; Relationship; Foreign Policy; State Security; Humans Security; Hard Power; SOFt Power