An Analysis Of The Pros And Cons Of Border (Land) Closure As A Measure Of Rejuvenating The Nigerian Economy

Closure of land borders is an instrument often adopted by the government in Nigeria to address security challenges or curtail the smuggling of contraband. The decision of the Muhammadu Buhari-led civilian administration to partially close Nigeria's land borders in August 2019 and their full closure in October 2019 remained the most talked-about issue before the spread of COVID-19 to the West Africa sub-region in February/March 2020. An attempt is made in this paper to discourse-analyse the pros and cons of the border closure and interrogate its appropriateness and effectiveness in limiting smuggling and formalizing trade between Nigeria and its neighbours. Situating its analysis within the framework of mercantilism, the paper argues that President Muhammadu Buhari's decision to close land borders was to protect the economy from smugglers whose nefarious activities are undermining government efforts to put Nigeria on the pedestal of self-sufficiency in food production. The paper submits that while the border closure succeeds in mobilizing demand for some local produce such as local rice, improving Nigeria Customs Service's revenue generation, and reducing the volume of petrol that is smuggled out of Nigeria, it brings about the skyrocketed hike in prices of food items and compounds the problem of food insecurity in Nigeria most especially during the Covid-19 lockdown. The measure is also far from addressing the illicit business of smuggling, as smuggled goods still abound in major markets across the country. Be that as it may, land border closure may not necessarily be an antidote against the pervasive Informal Cross Border Trade (ICBT) between Nigeria and its neighbours. Without addressing the fluidity and permeability of border frontiers, dysfunctional and incoherent economic policies, infrastructural gap, high rate of unemployment, and corrupt enforcement agencies at the border posts, the country is only treating symptoms rather than the real infection