Outline five major features of Nigeria's foreign policy since independence.

Five major features of Nigeria's foreign policy since independence

1. Africa as the centrepiece: The liberation, unity and development of Africa have been the primary focus of Nigeria's foreign policy; Nigeria consistently supports African causes and gives priority to African affairs.
2. Non-alignment: Nigeria refused to align permanently with either the Western or the Eastern bloc during the Cold War, choosing instead to judge issues on their merits.
3. Support for the total liberation of Africa from colonialism and apartheid: Nigeria gave strong political, moral and material support to liberation movements and to the anti-apartheid struggle in Southern Africa.
4. Respect for the sovereign equality of all states and non-interference: Nigeria upholds the sovereign equality of states and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
5. Promotion of regional and international cooperation: Nigeria is committed to good neighbourliness and to membership of and active participation in organisations such as ECOWAS, the AU (formerly OAU), the UN and the Commonwealth.

(Others: peaceful settlement of disputes, and promotion of the economic well-being of Nigerians.)