Bemshima SAKA

YUSUFU Ahmed Audu

Abstract

One of the major challenges confronting Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine is the gap between its normative commitments and its practical implementation, particularly in complex security environment such as Nigeria. This raises concerns regarding the doctrine’s legitimacy, consistency, and effectiveness in practice. This study examines the extent to which United States engagement in Nigeria reflects the principles of R2P or primarily serves broader counterterrorism and strategic objectives. The study is anchored in liberal humanitarianism, which conceptualises sovereignty as conditional upon the state’s responsibility to protect its population, while authorising external intervention where this responsibility is unmet. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative research design relying on secondary sources, including academic literature, government publications, policy reports, United Nations documents, and reports from international organisations . This facilitates systematic interrogation of prevailing interpretations and policy practices. Findings indicate that the United States’ engagement in Nigeria involved military assistance, including training, intelligence sharing, and the provision of security support aimed at strengthening state capacity. Other areas of US intervention include economic assistance, promotion of democratic values, and governance support to enhance institutional performance. However, its effectiveness is constrained by sovereignty sensitivities, inconsistent political will, and structural operational limitations. The study concludes that while R2P remains normatively compelling, its implementation in Nigeria is contextually constrained, requiring a more integrated and sustained approach to security, governance, and development interventions.

   

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Published: 2026

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