Assessment of Nigeria’s External Image: The Buhari Administration Under Review

Abstract

This paper examined contending issues in Nigeria’s external image management under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Some of these issues have presented daunting challenges which have negatively undermined the capacity of the Nigerian state to meet the lofty aspirations of her citizens in the areas of security, unemployment and rising cost of goods and services to mention a few. This study is focused on dissecting these contending domestic challenges with a view to recommending actionable steps to forge a visible, robust and progressive posture in the international arena. This is core to Nigeria’s national interest and foreign policy objectives as the debilitating effect of near gloomy and not-too positive image some of these lingering domestic challenges portend for the country cannot be left to rhetorically hang like sword of the Damocles over the country. The study discovered that the reticent nature of the Muhammadu Buhari administration since its advent administration in 2015, partly explains the escalation of some domestic challenges and subsequently snowballing into international miasma over the country’s image. The study recommends increased budgetary allocation to Nigeria’s foreign missions with special emphasis on those with high volume of immigrant traffic and economic ties. The Diaspora Commission should be retooled to immediately provide legal representation to Nigerians suffering from minor human right violations before it becomes full blown diplomatic rows.