RESURGENCE OF MILITARY COUPS IN WEST AFRICA: POLITICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS FOR NIGERIA.

Abstract

The resurgence of military coups in West Africa presents significant challenges for both affected nations and regional powerhouses like Nigeria. The study uses Regime Theory to examine the political and socio-economic ramifications of these coups, focusing on institutional fragility, governance deficiencies, and social unrest. The study engaged qualitative techniques of data collection and analysis with Seven (7) key informants relevant to the study interviewed. Discourse Analysis was used to analyze obtained qualitative data. The research reveals that weak governmental institutions, public sector corruption, and manipulation of democratic processes are key drivers of these coups, eroding public trust and making democratic governance vulnerable. The study found also that the political instability induced by coups undermines regional stability, affecting Nigeria's foreign policy and security strategies, disrupts trade, investment, and development prospects in Nigeria and increases Nigeria’s vulnerabilities as well as posing a threat to Nigeria's efforts to combat terrorism.