The Role of European Union Delegation in Abuja in Shaping Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Agenda

This study examines the role of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, based in Abuja, in shaping Nigeria's foreign policy agenda through diplomatic engagement, development dialogue, and normative influence. The EU Delegation in Abuja is one of the most active diplomatic missions in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory and plays a central role in coordinating EU-Nigeria relations across multiple policy domains including trade, security, governance, and development cooperation. This descriptive study draws on secondary literature in EU external relations and Nigerian foreign policy analysis published between 2020 and 2024, EU Delegation public statements and press releases, and semi-structured interviews with Nigerian foreign ministry officials, EU diplomatic staff, and Abuja-based policy analysts. The study examines the formal and informal mechanisms through which the EU Delegation engages with Nigerian foreign policy actors, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Assembly, and civil society organisations. The research also considers how the EU Delegation has handled sensitive diplomatic issues such as Nigeria's human rights record, counter-terrorism cooperation, and trade negotiations. Findings contribute to undergraduate understanding of the day-to-day machinery of EU-Nigeria bilateral relations and the significant role played by EU diplomatic missions in host country foreign policy processes. Keywords: EU Delegation Abuja, Nigeria foreign policy, diplomatic engagement, EU-Nigeria relations, normative influence.