International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue VI, June 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705

Nigeria and the United Kingdom Diplomatic Relations: The Emerging Issues in the Post-Brexit Era

IGBINI, M. Daniel1, OLUKA, N. Lucas2, OHARISI, A. Jeremiah3
¹Department of Political Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria
²Department of Political Science, Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, Nigeria
³Oba Erediauwa College of Law, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State Nigeria

Abstract: As United Kingdom embarked on exit from the European Union (EU) following the popular but unexpected outcome of the referendum of June 2016, scholars and analysts all over the world have been predicting the consequences as well as benefits of UK’s actions on its close allies around the globe; particularly from Africa-(the commonwealth and non-commonwealth countries inclusive) and the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP). As a close ally to the UK, Nigeria’s foreign policy and trade relations with UK and other member nations of the EU are likely to be altered in the post-Brexit diplomacy. This study therefore, seek to explore and unearth the emerging opportunities and challenges that may result from the post-Brexit trade and other diplomatic intercourse between the UK and Nigeria on one hand, and EU, ACP and other Commonwealth countries including Nigeria specifically, on the other hand. To achieve the objectives of this study, a combination of descriptive, explanatory and desktop methods were adapted to access valid qualitative but analytical data that helps to elicit and espouse the position of the authors in this study. General System Theory (GST) was adopted to explain the potential diplomatic relationships between the post-Brexit UK, EU and ACP, the Commonwealth with respect to trade, commerce and industry. The paper concludes that the emerging post-Brexit trade and other diplomacies will throw up challenges and opportunities which proportion may not be immediately determined. The study recommends as follows: that Government in Nigeria and other affected nations should key into the post-Brexit diplomacy by designing economic and industrial blueprints that would provide them the foundations for mutual economic benefits, be prepared to take advantage of the new changes that are likely to accompany post-Brexit trade diplomacy critically analysing them to avoid the mistakes of the past economic and trade regimes, ensure that currency equilibrium is permitted in its post-Brexit diplomacy. This simply means that the government should ensure that there is a balance of her local currency and pound in the post-Brexit trade intercourse with UK among others.

Keywords: United Kingdom, Great Britain, Nigeria, Diplomatic Relations, Post-Brexit Era.

I. INTRODUCTION

Over the years, Britain and Nigeria have established mutual diplomatic relations following their colonial affiliation. Both nations have also maintained trade intercourse under the umbrella of the Commonwealth nations which was founded on 11th December 1931 with over 54 member nations currently.