Trade Policy and Informal Cross-Border Trade Along the Nigeria-Benin Republic Border, Ogun State, South West Nigeria

This study investigates the dynamics of informal cross-border trade along the Nigeria-Benin Republic border in Ogun State and assesses the impact of trade policy frameworks on traders engaged in this informal economy. The Nigeria-Benin Republic border corridor is one of the busiest informal trade routes in West Africa, facilitating the movement of agricultural commodities, textiles, electronics, and petroleum products. Drawing on political economy of trade theory and recent literature on informal cross-border trade in the ECOWAS region from 2019 to 2024, the study employs a descriptive survey design. A sample of 240 cross-border traders, customs officials, border community residents, and trade association leaders is selected using purposive and snowball sampling across three border communities in Ogun State. Structured questionnaires and focused interviews are used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and content analysis are applied. The study expects to find that policy inconsistencies, frequent border closures, multiple checkpoints, and high tariff barriers push traders into the informal economy, reducing state revenue while sustaining livelihoods for large numbers of border community households. It also examines the role of ECOWAS trade liberalisation instruments and the African Continental Free Trade Area framework in reshaping informal trade dynamics. Recommendations will address formalisation incentives, border infrastructure investment, and simplified trade facilitation procedures. Keywords: informal trade, cross-border trade, trade policy, Nigeria-Benin border, ECOWAS