Nigeria’s foreign policy has traditionally focused on protecting national interest, promoting African unity, maintaining diplomatic relations, and supporting regional peace and security. However, in an increasingly interconnected world, foreign policy can also serve as an important instrument for achieving sustainable national development. This position paper examined how Nigeria can leverage its foreign policy to promote economic growth, investment, international trade, technology transfer, human-capital development, and regional economic integration. The paper is anchored on the Complex Interdependence Theory developed by Keohane and Nye (1977), which explains how countries are increasingly connected through economic, political, institutional, and social relationships. The paper argued that Nigeria has significant opportunities to turn its diplomatic relationships and international influence into practical development benefits. However, challenges such as policy inconsistency, weak institutions, corruption, insecurity, overdependence on crude oil, inadequate infrastructure, and poor implementation of international agreements continue to limit these opportunities. The paper further identified economic diplomacy, AfCFTA, technology partnerships, diaspora engagement, economic diversification, and stronger regional cooperation as major prospects. It recommended a more consistent and development-oriented foreign policy, stronger diplomatic institutions, improved governance, greater economic diversification, and closer coordination between foreign policy and national development priorities. The paper concluded that Nigeria’s foreign policy will have greater developmental value when its international engagements are deliberately connected to domestic needs and translated into tangible improvements in employment, investment, technology, infrastructure, security, and citizens’ welfare.

Keywords: Foreign policy, Sustainable development, National interest, Economic diplomacy, Complex Interdependence Theory.