US, Russia and the Politics of Influence in Pre and Post Colonial Nigeria

Abstract

Most major powers, Britain, France, United States, Russia and China, have always found Nigeria attractive naturally because of its vast resources. Even before its independence in October 1960, Britain, Russia, and the United States have made efforts to carve some influence for themselves in order to gain political leverage and economic advantage. By the design of the powers themselves during the scramble for and partitioning of Africa in 1879, the British overcame strong and feeble oppositions to its dominance in Nigeria.

However, seeing the huge potentials in the country, the United State signed a Consular Convention with the United Kingdom which made it possible for the United States to initiate direct contacts with leading African nationalists and specifically, made it possible for the United States Department in 1954 to extend its cultural Exchange Programme to future Nigerian leaders. This convention galvanized activities between Nigeria and the United States in such a way that both countries wished to promote their interests in the evolving post-colonial regional setting.

In a game plan which the United States never anticipated, the Russians came up with resolution 1514 which was meant to guarantee complete independence for African states. The passage of this resolution by an overwhelming majority in the United Nations General Assembly made the US and its European allies unpopular in Africa for daring to oppose openly a Resolution that would remove the impediment against their independence. In a contrasting situation, Russia's influence and image soared in Africa especially in Nigeria where some Nationalists favoured strong relations with Russia. This was the politics that played out in pre and post colonial Nigeria between the United States and Russia.