On attainment of independence Nigeria declared that she would adopt the policy of non-alignment. This meant that Nigeria

On attainment of independence, Nigeria declared that she would adopt the policy of non-alignment. This meant that Nigeria would not take sides with any of the contending power blocs in the international system. The policy of non-alignment was based on the belief that Nigeria should maintain its independence and sovereignty, and not align itself with any of the major power blocs of the time, such as the United States or the Soviet Union. This allowed Nigeria to pursue its own interests and objectives, rather than being dictated to by external powers. Furthermore, non-alignment allowed Nigeria to remain neutral in international conflicts, such as the Cold War, and focus on promoting African unity and cooperation. This meant that Nigeria would not seek the opinion of her West African neighbours before taking any action in international matters, nor would she take sides with any country that offers aids to her. Overall, the policy of non-alignment was an expression of Nigeria's desire to remain neutral, independent, and sovereign, and to promote cooperation and unity in Africa without interference in the internal affairs of her neighbors.