The main objective of Nigeria’s foreign policy is to

1. Analyze the question The question asks for the main objective of Nigeria's foreign policy. Every country's foreign policy is first and foremost a tool for serving its own interests abroad.

2. Explain the concept Foreign policy is the set of strategies and actions a country uses to deal with other countries and international organizations. Nigeria's foreign policy objectives include:

• Protecting the nation's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence
• Promoting the economic and social well-being of Nigerians
• Promoting African unity and cooperation (ECOWAS, AU)
• Supporting decolonization and fighting racial discrimination (e.g. the anti-apartheid stance)
• Promoting world peace and good relations with other nations

All of these come under one umbrella: safeguarding the national interest.

3. Solution: evaluate each option

• A. Preserve her colonial links. Wrong. Nigeria has opposed colonialism and supported liberation movements across Africa.
• B. Protect her national interest. Correct. This is the central aim of any country's foreign policy, and it covers security, economic growth, and the welfare of citizens.
• C. Dominate the African continent. Wrong. Nigeria's "Afrocentric" policy stresses cooperation and partnership, not domination.
• D. Prevent international terrorism. Wrong. This is a contemporary concern and only a secondary or specific goal, not the main objective.

4. Answer The correct option is B. protect her national interest.

5. Exam tip For "main objective of foreign policy" questions, look for the option containing "national interest". It is almost always the answer, because it is the general principle that all other objectives (security, trade, African unity) serve. Be wary of options with extreme words like "dominate" or "preserve colonial links".