House Allocation Problem with Existing Tenants

Since independence, twelve different regimes have emerged in Nigeria: Balewa, Ironsi, Gowon, Muritala, Obasanjo, Shagari, Buhari, Babangida, Shonekan, Abacha, Abubakar and Obasanjo and now Yar' Adua. In spite of their different orientations and leadership styles, the conduct of Nigeria's foreign policy has been publicly proclaimed by them to be guided by the same principles which are also in conformity with the well-established principles of traditional law as well as the charter of the organization of African Unity OAU or AU). They are:

• Sovereign equality of all states

• Respect of territorial integrity and independence of other states

• Non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.

• Commitment to self-determination and independence of other states

• Commitment to functional approach as a means of promoting co-operation and peaceful co-existence in Africa and the whole world known as multilateralism.

• Non-alignment to any geopolitical power bloc. Commitment to Africa as the cornerstone and nerve-center of Nigeria's foreign policy.

We will highlight these as below:

1. Sovereign Equality of all States: As an independent sovereign state, Nigeria has always emphasized the principle of legal equality of all states. This is in conformity with her conviction that a well-ordered and peaceful society requires mutual and reciprocal respect for the interests and opinions of most if not all the national actors. The principle is also to protect the small and or relatively weaker states like Nigeria, which are highly susceptible to control, dominance and coercion by the more powerful and industrialized states. Hence Nigeria, since the Balewa government in 1960 up to the present dispensation of Yar ‘Adua in 2007, has through her foreign policy pronouncements and actions that in spite of comparative advantage in size, population and resources over many other countries in Africa, particularly in West Africa, she would neither seek to dominate, other countries nor carry out aggressive military action against them comparative advantage in size, population and resources over many other countries in Africa, particularly in West Africa, she would neither seek to dominate, other countries nor carry out aggressive military action against them.

Rather, Nigeria prefers to play a leadership role. This has governed Nigeria's relation with Cameroun despite many provocations on Bakassi claim.

2. Respect of Territorial integrity and independence of other states. This is related to the sovereign quality of other states. It is in the belief of Nigeria that the independence of any sovereign state must be respected, and that the territorial integrity of any states must be jealously guarded and not jeopardized.

3. Non-Interference in the Internal Affairs of other states: This principle is perhaps one of those that have never been maintained by successive administrations in Nigeria. One of the reasons often cited for this is the protection of the nation's security interests. This accounted for Nigeria's intervention in the Chadian internal crisis involving Goukoni Wedeye and Hissain Habre in the 1980s. It was the lunch of the Nigerian government that the conflict in a neighboring state posed security problem for her. On the other hand, Nigeria's intervention in the Liberian and Sierra Leonean domestic crises was essentially to justify her regional power stations and perception of her leadership role in the sub-region.

4. Commitment to Self-determination and Independence of other states: This is a principle that Nigeria has always maintained since independence. It is for this reason that she has remained persistent in her commitment towards decolonization in Africa and her active role in support of Liberation struggle particularly in Southern Africa. It was indeed in recognition of this role in African liberation that Nigeria was consistently accorded the chairmanship of the United Nation's Committee on Anti-Apartheid for several years.

5. Commitment to Functional Approach as a means of Promoting Cooperation and Peaceful Co-existence in Africa: This is the principle of multilateralism.

Driven by her strong belief and commitment to this principle, Nigeria has sought membership in various international organizations at both global and regional levels. Upon her attainment of independence in 1960, the country instantly joined the United Nations Organization (UNO). Nigeria also played active role in the formation of OAU in 1963, and propelled, in collaboration with Togo, the establishment of ECOWAS in 1975. The country has been playing a front line role in these organizations. For instance, she has been both chairman of the UN General Assembly and a member of the Security Council on different occasions.

Nigeria has also been chairman of both the OAU and ECOWAS on a number of occasions.

6. Non-alignment to any Geopolitical Power Bloc: It is a foreign policy principle when rejects formal military alliance with and routine political support for the west or the East in the post-world War II, Cold war international system. At independence, Nigeria under Balewa was perceived to behave in the principle of non-alignment. The belief was however, contradicted at the country was flagrantly allying with Britain, the erstwhile colonial power. The most practical manifestation of alignment and pro-western policy of the Balewa government was the Anglo-Nigeria Defence pact of 1961 which was only abrogated in 1962 as a direct result of criticisms and violent protest by student organization. However, the experience of the nations civil war in which the Western countries were not fourth coming to assist Nigeria in the way she wanted changed the country's perception about these countries and since 1968, up to the end of the civil war, Nigeria was playing an active role in the Non-aligned movement.

7. Another operating principle of Nigeria's foreign policy is that Africa is the corner-stone and nerve centre of Nigeria's foreign policy. In recognition the historical and geographical facts that Nigeria belongs to Africa and convinced of what Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe called "the historic mission and manifest destiny of Nigeria on African content", the various Nigerian governments have been consistent that Africa must and would claim first attention in Nigeria external relations and occupation.