The perception of any country is a vital ingredient in assessing her
international standing. This implies that a country with negative or image crisis is
a bad item in the diplomatic market. Nigeria‟s international image has oscillated
between periods of positivity and negativity, with the latter being preponderant.
Citizen diplomacy as Nigeria‟s foreign policy thrust emerged in 2007 to
interrogate and reconstruct the country‟s dwindling image in the internation al
system. Through secondary sources of data and social constructivism as
framework of analysis, the paper posits that restoration and sustenance of citizen
diplomacy and vigorous drive have the potentials for creating a better image for
Nigeria. Other recommendations proffered can also redress the image deficit of
the country.