Incorporation of human rights into the Nigerian foreign policy : case study of the Nigerian technical aid corps (TAC) Scheme

Abstract

The Thesis examines the possibility and benefits of incorporation of human rights into Nigeria’s foreign policy especially through the use of its Technical Aid Crops (TAC) Scheme which was designed to facilitate manpower development assistance to countries in African, Caribbean and pacific (ACP) regions. It departs from the literature on Nigeria’s foreign Policy and argue that, though a concept still in its infancy as far as the conceptualization of basic components of Nigeria foreign policy is concerned, human rights issues have become a veritable aspect of contemporary inter-state relations and its central role on how bilateral aid should be dispensed cannot be ignored in view of potential damaging impact on national security of the gross violation of human rights across borders. Human rights issues have gained currency in the light of contemporary happening in international relations. Concerns for human development and associated freedom have raised the need to guarantee basic rights of citizenry within and beyond territorial borders. Nations have in the past gone to war because of fundamental issues that touched on the vary basis of sovereignty. Issues of fundamental freedom and human dignity are now taking center stage in the contemporary international relations and discourse much the same way issues of war and peace had taken center stage for much of nineteen and twentieth centuries.