Migration and foreign policy in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examined Migration and Foreign Policy in Nigeria. Nigeria's foreign policy progressively integrates migration via diaspora diplomacy on an international level. The Nigerian diaspora, one of the largest in Africa, is recognised as a crucial asset for national development through remittances, skill transfer, and investment. The study is anchored on Neoclassical Realism, a theory that bridges systemic pressures in the international system with domestic-level factors in shaping state behavior. Secondary sources of data was used in the paper. It concluded that Migration has become a key factor in Nigeria’s foreign policy, shaping policy formulation and diplomatic engagement. Commitments to regional integration, diaspora engagement, and citizen protection show its link to national interest. Meanwhile, pressures from destination states and multilateral actors have integrated migration management into diplomacy, producing a foreign policy marked by cooperation, negotiation, and tension. The paper recommends that Nigeria should develop a clearly articulated migration-focused foreign policy framework that aligns diaspora engagement, consular protection, and regional mobility commitments with broader national development goals. The federal government should strengthen diaspora diplomacy by expanding the capacity of Nigerian embassies to respond to migrant welfare concerns, especially in countries with large Nigerian populations. Nigeria should pursue balanced international cooperation on migration that prioritizes shared responsibility.