NIGERIA’S TRADE RELATIONS WITH HER WEST AFRICAN NEIGHBOURS, 1960 - 1990

Abstract

The trade relations that existed among the various communities in West Africa region since pre-colonial period were to a large extent complementary. But the advent of colonialism and the imperial control of African States after independence ensured the gradual and structural incorporation of West African economies into the Western capitalist system which was detrimental to trade relations in West Africa or among ECOWAS states. This study attempts a trajectory of Nigeria’s trade relations with West African States on one hand and its neighbouring Sahelian and Coastal countries since the 1960s up to 1990. It articulates the view that Nigeria’s trade relations with other West African States were characterised by its low volume and the transactions were more on an informal platform which was in contradistinction with her foreign trade with non-African countries. The events of the 1970s precipitated by the vicissitudes of oil boom, the devaluation of the Naira among other factors were observed to be defining instruments that influenced the pattern of flow of commodities between Nigeria and her Francophone neighbours. It also identifies the aspect of food security as a strategic instrument of intra-ECOWAS relations and conclude that Nigeria and other West African States need to undertake internal reforms within individual states, put in place basic structures for economic growth as well as harmonise their political and economic policies to encourage regional integration in the region. The study adopts a historical and analytical approach through the gleaning of available primary and secondary sources.