Nigeria in ECOWAS Politics: Major Contributions, Dividends and Setbacks.

This article analyzes Nigeria's leadership and interventions within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), highlighting its significant contributions to regional security, democracy promotion, economic support, and funding. Nigeria's dominant role is underpinned by its substantial population, economic capacity, and military strength, which have enabled it to shape ECOWAS's legal frameworks and peacekeeping efforts, notably through initiatives like the ECOWAS Monitoring Observer Group (ECOMOG). Despite these achievements, Nigeria faces challenges including anti-Nigerian sentiments from some Francophone members, occasional unfriendly actions by smaller states, and domestic security issues that spill over into neighboring countries. The study concludes that while Nigeria's West Africa policy has yielded important dividends and consolidated its regional leadership, it requires sustained, strategic engagement—particularly in managing relations with Francophone countries and addressing internal security—to maintain its influence within ECOWAS.