Impact of Border Closure on the Supply Chain of Tomato Paste in Markets of Katsina State, North West Nigeria

This study investigates the impact of Nigeria's land border closures on the supply chain of tomato paste in markets within Katsina State, North West Nigeria. Katsina State, which shares an extensive border with Niger Republic, experienced severe supply disruptions during the period of Nigeria's land border closure policy. Tomato paste, a food commodity widely consumed across northern Nigeria, is heavily influenced by imports and cross-border informal trade. Using a descriptive survey design, structured questionnaires were administered to 120 market traders, wholesale distributors, and retail shop owners in Katsina, Daura, and Dutsin-Ma markets. The study traces supply chain disruptions along the import and distribution channels for tomato paste, measuring changes in stock availability, price per unit, supply frequency from distributors, and consumer purchasing behaviour. Pre- and post-closure comparisons are drawn from trader records and market price data. Descriptive statistics and basic regression analysis are employed. The study draws on recent literature on trade policy shocks and food supply chain vulnerability in West African economies. Findings are expected to reveal that border closures caused significant supply gaps, price inflation of over 60 percent, and reduced product quality as importers shifted to longer and costlier alternative sourcing routes. Recommendations address the need for domestic tomato processing investment, regional trade buffer mechanisms, and transparent trade policy communication from the federal government. Keywords: border closure, supply chain, tomato paste, Katsina State, food commodity.