This study provides a comparative analysis of the impact of Nigeria’s foreign policy on national development from 2011 to 2023. The research examines how Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, strategies, and outcomes have evolved over this period and the corresponding effects on the country’s economic, social, and political development. The study utilized qualitative research methodologies; the study examines secondary data from sources such as government reports, international databases, and academic publications. The analysis focuses on key development indicators, including economic performance, social welfare, environmental sustainability, and security. Nigeria’s geopolitical significance, diverse development challenges, and dynamic foreign policy landscape provide a rich context for this investigation. Data were collected from a variety of secondary sources, including the internet, newspapers, journals, and books, and analyzed through content analysis to identify patterns and insights. The study area encompasses Nigeria, a nation critical to regional and global geopolitics, which faced notable shifts in foreign policy priorities over the examined period. The research findings highlight that Nigeria’s foreign policy from 2011 to 2023 had a profound impact on its national development, contributing to both successes and challenges. The study highlights the evolving foreign policy strategies under different political administrations and their varied impacts on economic, social, and political dimensions of development. The study concludes that while Nigeria achieved significant progress in areas such as foreign investment, regional integration, and international standing, it also faced persistent challenges related to domestic instability, resource dependence, and institutional weaknesses. The research provides recommendations for aligning foreign policy more strategically with national development goals, enhancing economic diplomacy, diversifying international partnerships, and strengthening institutional capacities. Suggestions for further research include comparative analyses of different administrations’ foreign policy strategies and the integration of sustainability considerations into foreign policy frameworks.