An assistant professor of Strategy and International Business at the University of Bath, United Kingdom, Tahiru Azaaviele Leidong, has said that recent moves by President Muhammadu Buhari to partially close Nigeria’s border with Benin in an effort to stem the smuggling of rice, raises serious concerns, SABC reports.
Leidong said even though closure of border is not new in Africa, Nigeria's actions raise important concerns about the seriousness and prospects of regional integration in Africa.
He said, “African countries have different economic configurations and strategic priorities.
“The huge number of diverse countries within the free trade area isn’t going to make things easy.
“Indeed, free trade has its benefits but it also has costs. Nigeria’s bid to protect a declining rice farming industry and save foreign exchange has led to protectionism that defies the principles of a free trade area.
“The African Union has been muted on the issue of the border closures. This might be because it does not yet have detailed institutional arrangements for settling disputes within the free trade area.
“Another factor might be that it has been quiet because Nigeria is involved.
“As Africa’s largest economy, the AU courted it earnestly to sign. The agreement needs Nigeria, arguably at whatever cost.
“The regional trade bloc ECOWAS has also failed to bring Nigeria to heel.
“Both Nigeria and Benin are members of the bloc, created in 1975. All it has done so far is to appeal for the borders to be opened. It clearly has no enforcement power.
“Nigeria’s border closure may be a precursor. More incidents like this can be expected as the realities of free trade kick in. Some countries will lose, others will gain.
“The AU needs protocols and measures to manage free trade, as well as programmes to prepare political leaders for the realities that will follow.
“The free trade area should not be a mere symbol. It must be fully understood and appreciated for it to succeed.
“The Nigeria border closure must be resolved as soon as possible.
“It is diverting attention and positive energy from matters that can promote the free trade area, such as investments in transport infrastructure, trade data capture and border protection.
“More importantly, it is a bad precedent that could reduce other countries’ commitments to economic integration in Africa. The AU must act now, or prepare to bury the free trade deal.”
http://saharareporters.com/2019/10/28/nigeria%E2%80%99s-border-closure-has-implications-africa%E2%80%99s-economic-integration-%E2%80%93analyst?
Mynd44 oam4j lalasticlala mynd44

If you have goods fly them in legally
If you have your money, seeks for treatment anywhere in the world but as for our Dear border, let it remain closed.

Honestly, may those borders remain closed! We want to move forward too. We want to grow our economy. We may face hardship but it will all become a history after a year or two.

Shattap and stuff your integration into your yansh

ziegurf:




Dear Sir/Madam truly I said unto you with due respect.....
.....you're a DUNCE

Hope you have not been doing illegal business before now?

Authortee:
Shattap and stuff your integration into your yansh

If African countries and "smugglers" are crying, then Nigeria has started doing something right.
Those wailing should do clean businesses and stop cutting corners

The good thing about border closure is, it shields indigenous companies from intense competition. It's purely protectionism. The Western powers and African states kicking against it are merely protecting their interests. Which is understandable. Admit it or not, protectionism brought Europe and America to where they are today.

The sad thing about border closure is simple, we lose income from imports and these products go into the black market, where they are sold for exorbitant prices.

Border closure will yield the fullest benefit when ingenious companies are empowered to produce and sell.

Am I missing anything?

Won tun gbedeeee part 2!


Let me read first. I will be back to comment

Angbulu:
The good thing about border closure is, it shields indigenous companies from intense competition. It's purely protectionism. The Western powers kicking against it are merely acting to protect their interests. Which is understandable. Admit it or not, protectionism brought Europe and America to where they are today.

The sad thing about border closure is simple, we lose income from imports and these products go into the black market, where they are still for exorbitant prices.

Border closure will yield it's the fullest benefit when ingenious companies are empowered to produce and sell.

Am I missing anything?

Most of the Neighbors in Africa don't respect our sanctity as a nation thereby turning Nigeria into their dumping grounds of bad products that ended up destroying our environment and the people.
What Nigeria is saying is that follow the normal process as enshrined in the international Chambers of commerce guidelines by adhering and paying all the tax and charges attached to each kind of business transactions you are carrying.
We close our borders because we want to grow our own economy and answer our name as the giant of Africa.
The Treaties and agreements signed by countries was for a legal form of business not t the other way round.Mynd44

Naija