CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the study
Terrorism is defined as calculated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also defines terrorism as “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”
The problem of terrorism and global security has become substantial points of contention in putting in place foreign policy of nations across the globe. Recent researches have revealed that such challenges as, social, economic, political and technological factors that spin around the hub ofglobal security matters have been seriously undermined by dangerous acts of terrorism. Thisis because terrorism in which ever from poses an alarming kind of violence and threat in thecontemporary world, which constitutes great hindrance to free flow relationship that existamongst nations. In Nigeria for instance the cause of terrorism ranges from religiousextremism, perceived oppression and nationalist separatist or ethnic considerations that nodoubt have greatly impacted on the Nigerian foreign policy. The secure position of a state with oil Niger Delta, theimpact of terrorism and global security on Nigerian foreign policy measures to combatterrorism and enhance global security.
The rise of terrorism in Nigeria owing to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Northern Nigeria has greatly washed out the country’s foreign policy drive. The activitiesBoko Haram in Nigeria have led to negative reactions from groups and nations that have been affected by its activities in the country thereby leading to deterioration of foreign relations of these countries with Nigeria.
Terrorist acts in Nigeria by Boko Haram and other groups have generated so much interest from the international community raising questions as to the potency of government’s strategy to deal with the menace. This is because the audacity of the group has continued unabated amidst government claims of winning the war, every day casualty’s increase at alarming rates after each attack making the general public to lose confidence in the system.
1.2. Statement of the problem
Nigeria has been caught in the web as terrorist acts are now a regular attribute which has affected its image abroad. This has led to capital flight as many nations have withdrawn their presence in the country making government to lose revenue at an alarming rate. Incidences of abduction and bombings in Nigeria have made the country lose its 6th position as a leading oil exporting country to Angola in 2011. (Ojukwu, 2011).
Enshrined in the foreign policy objective of Nigeria is Economic Diplomacy which is one of the pivots of the Transformation Agenda under the Jonathan Administration (Okoro, 2013). Economic diplomacy is aimed at wooing investors from other countries to invest in Nigeria. The recent security problem in the country has frustrated this goal because instability and violence has led to balance of trade deficits especially in Northern Nigeria
One of the glaring effects of terrorism on foreign policy is that most countries do not look at Nigeria as a serious minded nation to establish an economic agreement with. Hence most acts of terrorism have often times been politicized and facts distorted by government officials for personal gains.