Managing Cross-Border Trade Between Nigeria and EU Member States: Professional Perspectives from Kano

This study examines the professional management of cross-border trade between Nigeria and European Union member states from the perspective of exporters, trade agents, and industry associations based in Kano, North-West Nigeria. Kano is a major commercial hub and one of Nigeria's most important centres for commodity trade with European markets, particularly in leather goods, groundnut products, and light manufacturing. This applied research employs structured interviews with export managers, commercial banks, and trade facilitation professionals in Kano, supplemented by analysis of trade statistics from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and German-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce data from 2019 to 2024. The study examines the professional challenges encountered in managing EU-bound exports from Kano, including compliance with EU product standards, documentation requirements, letter of credit management, and logistics coordination. The research also investigates the professional knowledge levels of Kano-based trade managers regarding EU market access regulations and the support services available to them through government and private sector institutions. The study critically assesses whether EU-Nigeria trade facilitation programmes have adequately addressed the professional capacity needs of traders operating in inland Nigerian commercial centres like Kano. Keywords: Kano trade management, EU market access, cross-border trade, export management, North-West Nigeria.