Abstract
This article re-examines and reassesses Nigeria’s foreign policy from 1960 to 1979. From independence in 1960, all the administrations in Nigeria had similar foreign policy objectives until 1975 when General Murtala Mohammed became the Head of State. General Mohammed was killed in a failed military coup d’état and General Olusegun Obasanjo, his deputy, became the head of state; hence, the usage of Mohammed-Obasanjo administration. The administration of Mohammed and Obasanjo witnessed the first time that Nigerian broke away from her traditional-moderate way of pursuing foreign policy objectives to a new style with emphasis on action, rather rhetoric. The aim of this review article was to re-examine and reassess the transformations in Nigeria’s foreign policy and diplomacy during the administration of Mohammed and Obasanjo. This review article discovers that Nigeria’s foreign policy truly transformed from reactionary, conservative, static, and lacklustre nature to inspiring, progressive, radical, and dynamic during the administration of Generals Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo. The article concluded that the Mohammed-Obasanjo’s foreign policy was the best in Nigeria from independence in 1960 to 1979 when Obasanjo handed power to President Shehu Shagari. Key words: Nigeria, foreign policy, diplomacy, international relations, security. 
Highlights
According to Ibrahim and Kabir (2018), „Nigeria‟s external relations with other African nations since independence in 1960 seem to reveal a consistent pattern‟
This review article is necessitated by the need for the current foreign policy framers of Nigeria to take a lesson from the approach and success of the Mohammed-Obasanjo administration in implementation of the country‟s foreign policy objectives and the framing of what should be the national interest of the country
During the time of Mohammed and Obasanjo the countries in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) supplied more than 90 percent of Nigeria‟s military weapons and hardware
Summary
According to Ibrahim and Kabir (2018), „Nigeria‟s external relations with other African nations since independence in 1960 seem to reveal a consistent pattern‟. This statement is true except for Mohammed-Obasanjo‟s administration from 1975-1979. The article addresses the actions of the Mohammed and Obasanjo on decolonization in Africa especially Angola, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. It examines the administration and its relations with international organizations such as the Organization of African Unity (OAU), Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Commonwealth Organization, United Nations Organization (UNO), and scrutinises the Nigeria and the Arab–Israeli conflict. This work assesses Nigeria‟s relations with the Western and Eastern blocs in terms of economic and military collaborations
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