By signing the Anglo-Nigerian Defence Pact, Nigeria practically demonstrated her

Analyze the question: The Anglo-Nigerian Defence Pact (1960-61) was an agreement between Nigeria and Britain. It allowed Britain military facilities, such as overflight rights and the use of bases, in Nigeria, and promised mutual assistance in defence. The question asks what this showed about Nigeria's foreign policy stance.

Explain the concept: Foreign policy postures are:

• Alignment: a country ties itself to a particular power bloc or country, usually through military or political pacts.
• Non-alignment: a country refuses to join any power bloc (East or West) during the Cold War.
• Neutrality: a country stays out of other nations' conflicts.
• Independence: a country's sovereign status, which Nigeria had just gained in 1960.

Solution:

1. The pact was a military agreement with Britain, a Western power.
2. Signing a defence agreement with one side commits a country to that side, so it is alignment with the West, not non-alignment or neutrality.
3. Although Nigeria officially claimed non-alignment, the pact exposed her pro-Western leaning. Nigerian students and opposition groups (led by Action Group figures and the student movement) protested it strongly, saying it compromised Nigeria's sovereignty and non-aligned stance. The government abrogated it in January 1962.
4. Independence (D) is not the best answer. Nigeria was already independent, and the pact was seen as limiting that independence, not demonstrating it.

Answer: A. alignment

Exam tip: Associate "defence pact" or "military agreement" with alignment. Remember: pact = party-taking. Non-alignment and neutrality mean no pacts with blocs.