Nigeria’s Foreign Policy and the African Union: An Assessment of Commitment to Regional Integration

This study examines Nigeria's foreign policy behaviour within the African Union (AU) framework, assessing the extent to which the country's diplomatic commitments align with its stated goals of promoting regional integration in Africa. Nigeria has historically positioned itself as a leader within the African continent, contributing substantially to multilateral peacekeeping operations, economic diplomacy, and conflict mediation. However, scholars and policymakers have raised persistent concerns about the gap between rhetoric and implementation in Nigeria's AU engagement. Drawing on foreign policy analysis and constructivist theory, this research investigates how domestic political pressures, economic interests, and leadership transitions have shaped Nigeria's participation in key AU initiatives between 2019 and 2024. The study relies on qualitative document analysis of official government statements, AU summit communiques, and secondary literature published within the last five years. A case study approach is employed, focusing on Nigeria's roles in the AU Peace and Security Council and the African Continental Free Trade Area negotiations. Findings are expected to reveal that while Nigeria maintains strong rhetorical commitment to AU ideals, implementation is frequently constrained by internal governance challenges and shifting foreign policy priorities. This research contributes to the understanding of middle-power behaviour in multilateral institutions and offers policy recommendations for strengthening Nigeria's regional leadership. Keywords: Nigeria, African Union, foreign policy, regional integration, multilateralism.