An Examination of the Nigerian Government’s Influence on Military Deployments in West Africa: Implications for Regional Security and Stability

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of Nigeria’s military deployments on regional security and stability in West Africa, with emphasis on its leadership role within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU). A descriptive survey design was adopted, using a stratified random sampling approach to select 400 respondents from military barracks in Edo State. Data were collected through structured questionnaires on a five-point Likert scale and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), and regression analysis with SPSS version 20. Results show that Nigeria plays a significant leadership role in ECOWAS security initiatives (grand mean = 3.81), strengthens regional security institutions (grand mean = 3.69), and influences bilateral relations and geopolitical dynamics in West Africa (grand mean = 3.47). Respondents highlighted that Nigeria’s military engagements enhance peacekeeping credibility, counterterrorism cooperation, and regional trust, though they occasionally generate diplomatic tensions. Key challenges identified include logistical constraints, inadequate equipment, financial limitations, and political instability (grand mean = 3.57). Correlation analysis confirmed strong positive relationships between Nigeria’s role and regional security initiatives (r = 0.923, p < 0.05), military engagements and regional security architecture (r = 0.830, p < 0.05), deployments and bilateral relations (r = 0.898, p < 0.05), and operational challenges with regional stability (r = 0.887, p < 0.05). The findings imply that while Nigeria remains a central actor in West African security governance, its effectiveness is constrained by structural and operational challenges. Addressing these limitations through enhanced funding, improved logistics, and stronger regional cooperation is critical to sustaining Nigeria’s contributions to peacekeeping and stability in West Africa.