The Administrative Capacity of The State and Its International Influence: Examining the Nexus Between Public Administration, Foreign Policy, and Global Governance in Nigeria, 2015–2026

Emmanuella Uzoetoh Chiwuzie; Ovundah Chukwuokeah Nwutobo Chukwuebuka

doi:10.56201/jpaswr.v11.no10.2026.pg90.115

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The Administrative Capacity of The State and Its International Influence: Examining the Nexus Between Public Administration, Foreign Policy, and Global Governance in Nigeria, 2015–2026

Emmanuella Uzoetoh Chiwuzie, Ovundah Chukwuokeah Nwutobo Chukwuebuka

Abstract

Nigeria’s regional leadership ambitions and global diplomatic engagements depend not only on population, economic resources and strategic location but also on the administrative institutions that formulate, coordinate and implement foreign policy. This study examined how state administrative capacity shaped Nigeria’s international influence between 2015 and October 2026, identified the institutional mechanisms linking public administration to foreign policy performance, assessed the implications of administrative capacity for Nigeria’s regional and global governance roles, and considered the contribution of public service reform to diplomatic effectiveness. The study was anchored in state capacity theory and complemented by foreign policy analysis and role theory. It adopted a qualitative documentary design and analyzed constitutional provisions, foreign policy statements, public service reform strategies, official records of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ECOWAS and African Union materials, World Bank governance indicators, and recent scholarly and policy literature published mainly between 2022 and October 2026. The analysis found that Nigeria retained substantial diplomatic assets, including its regional scale, institutional experience, peace and security contributions, and participation in multilateral organisations. However, these assets did not automatically translate into consistent international influence. Policy coordination gaps, uneven implementation capacity, fiscal and personnel constraints, fragmented interagency responsibilities, and weak links between international commitments and domestic delivery limited policy credibility. The 2025 withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS, Nigeria’s 4D foreign policy agenda, and the 2021–2025 civil service reform cycle illustrated the importance of administrative capability in managing complex regional and global responsibilities. The study concluded that administrative capacity is not a secondary technical concern but a strategic foundation of foreign policy. It recommended institutionalised foreign-policy coordination, professional diplomatic development, measurable implementation plans, stronger legislative and public accountability, and a successor public service reform framework explicitly connecting domestic administrative performance with Nigeria’s international commitments.

Keywords

administrative capacity; public administration; foreign policy; global governance; Nigeria; ECOWAS; state capacity; diplomatic influence

References

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The Administrative Capacity of The State and Its International Influence: Examining the Nexus Between Public Administration, Foreign Policy, and Global Governance in Nigeria, 2015–2026

Abstract

Keywords

References

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