Nigeria’s Foreign Policy and the Challenge of Transnational Security Threats: Addressing Terrorism, Piracy, and Climate Change in a Globalised World

This study explored Nigeria's foreign policy in relation to transnational security challenges, with a particular focus on terrorism, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP). Additionally, it addressed issues such as climate change and piracy, specifically in the context of the Gulf of Guinea crisis. The paper aimed to analyse the nature and character of Nigeria's foreign policy in light of terrorism, piracy, and climate change within an increasingly globalised environment. A qualitative research design was utilised, relying on secondary sources, including content analyses of relevant articles and journals. The primary objective is to identify the challenges faced by Nigeria's foreign policy in tackling transnational security issues and to evaluate how terrorism, piracy, and climate change have been incorporated into its foreign policy framework. The theoretical foundation of this paper is rooted in neoliberal institutionalism, which highlights the transnational security threats addressed by Nigeria's foreign policy. It also emphasised the importance of collaboration among African nations through initiatives such as the African Union security programme, the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), and the United Nations Climate Accord. Key findings indicate that Nigeria must prioritise stability and counterinsurgency efforts while advocating for action on climate change. The paper concluded that the government requires an effective foreign policy framework focused on transnational security threats that contribute to insurgency.