Cross-Border Trade, Informal Economies, and Bilateral Relations Between Nigeria and Cameroon: Evidence from Ebonyi State

Nigeria and Cameroon share a historically contested but economically interdependent border, and subnational border communities in Ebonyi State participate directly in the informal trade networks that sustain livelihoods on both sides of the frontier. Despite its significance, informal cross-border trade in this corridor remains poorly documented in the international relations literature, which tends to privilege formal diplomatic and macroeconomic analyses. This study investigates the nature, scale, and diplomatic implications of informal cross-border trade between Ebonyi State and adjacent Cameroonian communities, focusing on agricultural commodities, consumer goods, and livestock exchanges between 2020 and 2024. A qualitative fieldwork approach is employed, incorporating market surveys, trader interviews, and discussions with customs and immigration officials at key border crossings. The study draws on the political economy of borders and the concept of everyday diplomacy to interpret findings within the broader Nigeria-Cameroon bilateral relationship. Results show that informal trade provides critical income for smallholder farmers and petty traders in border local government areas of Ebonyi State, even as it occurs outside formal regulatory oversight. Border security tensions, currency exchange volatility, and infrastructure deficits impede the formalization of these trade flows. The study argues that bilateral diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and Cameroon should more explicitly address subnational border economies and recommends joint border development committees as a practical instrument for harnessing informal trade's developmental potential. Keywords: cross-border trade, informal economy, Nigeria-Cameroon relations, Ebonyi State, border communities