Prognosis of Nigeria's Relations with the Arab World

Abstract

Historically, Africans and Arabs have maintained contacts through trade, pilgrimage and scholarly exchange before the arrival of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa by the turn of the 8th century AD. These relations, particularly between Nigeria and Arab countries spanned the colonial era and accelerated after independence. However, Nigeria-Arab relations appear to have been threatened in recent years by the overbearing influence of the West on Nigeria. This study, therefore, carries out a prognosis on the future of these relations. It identifies issues and areas of cooperation that can provide the basis for sustained Nigeria-Arab solidarity which will in the long run result in economic development of Nigeria. The paper adopts historical/descriptive analysis methodology to interrogate autobiographies, theological tracts, conference proceedings, pilgrimage memoirs and secondary documents that deal with contacts between Nigeria and the Arab world. The findings of this paper show that these relations, if strengthened, should play decisive roles in international politics and will constitute a formidable force capable of ushering in socio-economic development in the country. The paper recommends the creation, promotion and sustenance of broad exchanges and interaction as well as discussions in cultural, political and economic fields with the Arab world.