



































Contents


American Finance & Banking Review 

Vol. 1, No. 1; 2017 

Published by Centre for Research on Islamic Banking & Finance and Business 

 

50 

 

 

Nigeria’s Border and Its Effect on the Economic and Security 

Development: A Case of Northern Borders in Nigeria      
 

Hamza Shehu Mohammed
1 

 

1 Department of Political Science, Bauchi State University, Gadau, Nigeria  

Correspondence: Department of Political Science, Bauchi State University, Gadau, Nigeria. E-Mail: 

hamzashehu6@Gmail.Com 

 

Received: September 25, 2017   Accepted: September 28, 2017   Online Published: October 07, 2017   

 

 

Abstract 

Generally speaking, the borders in most of the African countries were among the upshot of the colonial ruling in 

those countries. Such demarcations were mostly created in a kind of problematic situation thereby causing 

serious misunderstanding among neighboring countries. It is also an imperative to know that these creations 

were actually perpetrated intentionally by the imperialist to serve so many purposes which includes among 

others the continuation of exploitation, free access to their colonies and coming back as aids providers. 

Moreover, such demarcations are being constructed on the papers without visiting those countries during the 

berlin conference in 1885 with the aid of complimenting the countries that were affected by the second world to 

revive them. Nevertheless, Nigeria without an exception has also faced with so many challenges in its borders 

especially the northern area. Therefore, this paper tries to examine why despite so many consideration by 

different governments and administrations yet border issues continue to be the most challenging factor in this 

prevailing situation in the country. Furthermore, the borders in the north were so porous to the extent that the 

issue of proliferation of weapons and food security were very obvious thereby challenging the security and 

economic wellbeing which in turn affect the nation building in the country.Based on the above, thisresearch 

concentrates on the qualitative technique on the area of economy and security as the drivers that highly 

contributed to this menaces and also measures to address it. 

 

Keywords: Border, Economy, Security and Development.  

 

1. Introduction 

The question of border administration has become very vital in the world currently because of the increased in 

illegal actions mostly after the end of the cold war and the rise of globalization. Transitional misconducts 

become an easy to be conducted in the borders of many African countries. This consists of the moving of 

people, money and goods across the world due to the development in technology, telecommunications and 

transportation in general. Hence, there is even a prominent saying according to some scholars that “the world 

has turned into a global village” with its own exceptionality as well as difficulties. Individuals now have an 

access to move across the boundaries free and even conduct some illegal trade with liberty. Therefore, this 

affects the socio-economic progress, security and property of the citizens. Nevertheless, Nigeria is not an 



Nigeria’s Border and Its Effect on the Economic and Security Development: A Case of Northern Borders 

in Nigeria          

Hamza Shehu Mohammed 

 

51 

 

exemption of this growing phenomenon; hence this calls for the gradual need for defense of both security and 

economy at our borders. In every country, be it advanced and undeveloped, security has been the major concern. 

By and large, it is concern of each government to take the matter of economy and security as their own primary 

purposes. Nigeria has been fighting with transnational border related crimes which put a grave danger to 

national security and the nation building ranging from drug trafficking, money laundering, illegal trafficking of 

arms, smuggling of all kinds, (stolen cars, smuggled goods, guns) theft, kidnapping and many more. These 

activities create a threat to economic and national security as they affect the development. It also ruins the image 

of Nigeria especially in the areas of money scams and other related trans-border offenses. Besides, another 

challenge was that of insecurity of lives and property that stems the northern Nigeria borders. The recent 

challenge of boko haram is also alarming in our borders especially the north eastern part of Nigeria. Boko haram 

is the mixture of Arabic and Hausa languages simply means ‘forbiddance of western education’. The group 

started as Islamic sect then transformed into an armed group as we can see the evidentially in bombings and 

killings in the north part of Nigeria (omolara a. 2013).  

It is part of the economic effect that insurgency had decelerated down the production in northern region that is 

now struggling. Agriculture is accounts for roughly fifth of the nation’s gdp and has employs more than 30 

percent of youths aged from 18 to 35, and is starts to show some signs of strain.it is also concentrated in the 

northern states, with the largest poverty rates and the majority of boko haram’s activity. According to amadousy 

an Africa economist at the Brookings institute, told ibtimes, “Nigeria’s north is definitely poorer than the south 

and the conflict is having a negative impact,” adding that the north formerly depends on transfers from the latter 

(Kathleen c. 2014). So, the present global developments such as the rising interdependence between the states 

and opening of the borders, which exist along with socio-economic, political, cultural and legal inequalities, 

have facilitate the activities of transnational illegal groups. The international fiscal crisis produced in 2008, has a 

number of consequences which are the issues of unemployment, a drop in the fees, fall in both the volumes and 

prices of the export, lesser direct foreign investments and the downward trend in tourism. As more communities 

are working in the informal part, other individuals have joined an organized criminal network (Simon o. E. 

2011). 

In addition, the challenges of border and its security have been other factors that generated such an economic 

issues were huge amount of funds that was supposed to be for developmental aspect are been relocated to 

security areas. The first manifestation of conflict at Nigeria’s borders is the problem of boundary adjustment. It 

is important to note that African borders have been designed by the Europeans that used subjective lines based 

on longitude and latitude to map out the Africa. In fact, the Africa boundaries do not actually represent the 

complete full-fledged territorial barriers or take into cognizance of the ethnic divisions. For example in Nigeria, 

its physical area joins between the four neighboring states, whose inhabitants were linked by socio-economic, 

political and cultural ties. It was not surprising therefore that the boundary issues with Cameroun and Nigeria 

has been the colonial inheritance (imobighe, 2003: 37).  

2. Conceptual Clarification 

2.1 Concept of Border 

The two main social and economic practices that take place in the international border are the movement of 

peoples and goods (for trade). This movement of an integrative process is the linkage between individuals on 

both sides of our borders; it halts down the artificially imposed walls, and creates interaction. Even though, 

earlier researches have stressed the concept of borders separately from the attached space, this study proposes a 

http://www.ibtimes.com/reporters/kathleen-caulderwood


Nigeria’s Border and Its Effect on the Economic and Security Development: A Case of Northern Borders 

in Nigeria          

Hamza Shehu Mohammed 

 

52 

 

more integrative insight. Hence, trans-border movement and transaction are usually measured as 

socio-economic events across the artificial boundaries. On the contrary, they are seemed here as the activities or 

methods that took place in the region, in which either one or both sides of the boundary. Thus in this study, the 

borders are seen as surrounding of the borderland (afolayan, a.a, 2000). 

2.2 Concept of Economy 

Adam smith was regarded as father of the contemporary economics. In his book “the nature & causes of wealth 

of the nation’s in 1776, he termed economics a as knowledge of wealth. According to him, the economy can be 

seen as the study of means simply and it deals with the area of consumption and production. Moreover, only 

physical goods that are scarce and valuable are wealth. Furthermore, professor marshall in his books “the 

principles of economics” 1890 provides a definition with more importance to human happiness. As per his 

definition, economics is the study of economic activities of social men that lives in the society. This definition 

therefore study the cause affecting the material wellbeing and real people who have devotion in social 

well-being and not the self-centered men, who trusts only in the economic abstracts 

(https://www.gktoday.in/most-basic-concepts-of-economy). 

2.3 Security 

The word security is talking about the state of safety, or being safe from a certain danger. It deals with the 

defense, safeguard and protection of the core values, and the nonexistence of threats to acquired values (bakut, 

2006: 235). Similarly, security is defined as the protection, watching and the intelligence roles of the states, and 

the controlling of dangers to and the breaches of peace through a multilateral and bilateral process (eze and 

hettman, 2005). Although, the issue of security is more attached with the army, some researchers caution its real 

meaning in this way. For example, sola ogunsanwo views that security is more than just military security or the 

external attacks. Also, for many inhabitants in the emerging countries, security stands for the basic way of the 

struggle for the survival. Hence, in order to offer an integrated african safety valuation, the non-military scopes 

of the security should be supplemented. Hereafter, the african security as an ideology should be understood in its 

widest sense to comprise the economic security, environmental security, social security, food security, the 

fairness of life security, and the technical security (quoted in nwolise, 2006: 349-350). As such, the issue of 

security is connected to development. To this end some scholars are now talking about the “securitization 

ofdevelopment”, in the sense that underdevelopment and insecurities create the circumstances for wars and 

armed struggles. Therefore, the security must be valued from both the military and non-military perspectives. 

National security is interpreted as the sum total of the country’s capabilities to preserve, promote and maintain 

itself, contain instability, its core values, enhance development, by improving the welfare, well-being and the 

quality of life of the people by increasing the consumption patterns (isa, 2007: 20). 

On the other hand, nwolise contends that the foundations of insecurity can be seen from two viewpoints. The 

first perspective is internal sources that include: political domination, inequality, human rights abuses, 

socio-economic injustices, resource mismanagement, military coups, extreme deprivation, poor leadership and 

marginalization, revolution, civil wars, terrorism, ethnic and religious riots, secession, food riots and among 

others, all hanging on the bad government, operation of ethnic and religious differences, et cetera. The second 

approach is the external causes which include: cross-national raids, military invasion, subversive infiltration, 

smuggling, sabotage, espionage, terrorism, and cross-border misconduct among others (nwolise, 2006: 350).  

2.4 Development 

General speaking, “development” connotes an event which brings about a new phase in a transformation 



Nigeria’s Border and Its Effect on the Economic and Security Development: A Case of Northern Borders 

in Nigeria          

Hamza Shehu Mohammed 

 

53 

 

situation or the system of change. When citing it to the world or socio-economic system, development typically 

indicates advancement, either in general or basic elements of the system. Development can arise because of 

some cautious action carried-out by some authority by or single agents pre-ordered to accomplish both 

advancement and favorable circumstances. Development strategies and the private investment, in all their 

arrangements, are examples of those actions. By this general definition, “development” is multi-dimensional 

theory in nature, since any movement of complex systems, as truly actual socio-economic structures can arise in 

different ways, at varying speeds and determined by different powers. Moreover, the advancement of one 

portion of the system can be detrimental to the growth of the other parts, giving rise to incompatible ideas 

(trade-offs) and conflicts. Thus, assessing development, i.e. Defining whether or to what extent a structure is 

developing, is essentially multidimensional process (lorenzo g. B 2011). 

3. Conceptual/Theoretical Framework 

This paper concerns about how our boundary administration encourages both economic and security problems 

in Nigeria thus causes havoc to its development. In view of this, migration theory could be adopted for the 

purposes of this study. People’s movement has become a major story in the African history. The practice of 

movement from one place to another can be regarded as a source of modernism, innovation, technological 

growth and development. Transnational migration has constantly brought societies and states together for time 

immemorial (gugler: 1969; adeola and ogirai: 2010; castles et al 2009). Yet, even its importance can be 

cherished by some, many including the governments are afraid of immigration if it is not obviously defined. The 

reason was that in contemporary times, the concept of international migration has come with it grave security 

questions that affect international relations and therefore shape the foreign policy regulations, diplomacy and the 

security matters.  

The definition of migration will not be comprehensive without taking analogy to diversity of migration. 

According to castles and miller 2009, which emphasize that, most of the countries do not have only one type of 

migration. For example they may have labor migration, permanent or refugee settlement but a complete range of 

kinds at once (castles and miller: 2009). Normally, migrating network which begins with single form of 

movement often move on with other systems, despite the efforts of the government control the movement. The 

cross border immigration between Nigeria and its immediate neighbors might start by one purpose and finished 

with another. As stated by Everett 1969, the discrepancy among both in terms of amenities and economy 

become intensified particularly among Nigeria and its neighboring states. Again, castles and et al (2009) 

perceive that the increase in politicization of immigration resulting from the internal politics, regional and 

bilateral relationships and the national security guidelines of countries are slowly implicated by global 

migration. In consequence, the security repercussions are now dictating the foreign policy instructions of most 

of the countries all over the globe. The wave of globalization has intricate migration matters in the issue of 

security. This happens in such a way that national security becomes a determining factor in influencing the way 

of foreign policy and diplomacy of countries in the sub-region (castles and et al 2009).  

Africa is termed as the region that has the world’s most movable population (Curtin: 1997). One of the highest 

movements in the human history was documented in the sub-saharan Africa. It involves the Bantu societies that 

left their area now surrounding Nigeria and Cameroun and formed their settlements in the southern half of the 

region (castles et al. 2009). Hence, migration is progressively driven by the economic, social and political 

changes. In the West African sub-region, migration can be explained in theory from the economic standpoint, 

although, other aspects can play their own role, but economic continue to be the outstanding. According to 



Nigeria’s Border and Its Effect on the Economic and Security Development: A Case of Northern Borders 

in Nigeria          

Hamza Shehu Mohammed 

 

54 

 

neo-classical, they link migration to travelling from a small to higher income area or more precisely, to variation 

in the business cycle. The method is known as the push-pull principles (castles et al. 2009). The “push factors” 

consist of lack of commercial opportunities, political awareness and freedom among others, whereas, the “pull 

factors” requires good economic opportunities, labor and political freedom.  In Africa, the style of migration 

has mostly followed this trend. The merely presence of economic differences among the various areas would be 

enough to create migrants movement (borjas: 1990; borjas: 2001). However, on the global front, between the 

countries, definite group may decrease the intervening difficulties to migration. With the reference to nigeria 

and its surrounding francophone bordering states, which they view nigeria as urban state from all views, 

growing technology has played a significant role in lessening the intervening obstacles (everett; 1969). Even if 

there are no modification in the balance of factors at the origin and end, therefore improving know-how alone 

would result in the increase of the volume of migration.  

4. Security Implications on the Northern Borders in Nigeria and Its Effect on Nation Building 

The paper discovered in specifics the challenges to the boundary security as it can be witnessed that Nigerian 

government lacks an appropriate territorial protection and much significance has not been given to our borders. 

This is because of the vulnerable threats at our national boundaries such as the trans-border activities and the 

rampant extremist attack that occur in the country as a result of the uncontrolled inflow of immigrants through 

different routes. Some of the challenges are discussed below: 

4.1 Proliferation of Small Weapons 

Every state has a responsibility for preserving its power and maintenance of law and order within its own 

jurisdiction. Therefore, a nation cannot be protected when its boundary is permeable. However, the porosity of 

Nigeria’s borders provides an evidence of the effect of cross-border. This is obvious because of the proliferation 

of small arms and light weapons (salw). This also is facilitated by massive cross-border trafficking and 

mercenary activities as evident from (Chad and Niger) and the country’s long poorly constructed borders that 

are inadequately regulated due to insufficient funds and the lack of capability of the security personnel. Part of 

the consequences of such horrible situation consist of threat to the security and peace of nigeria, danger to 

nigerian territorial sovereignty especially from the sides of the eastern and northern boundaries, loss of 

properties and lives of the nigerian citizens present in the border zones and the constant provocation of nigerians 

in those border parts (ginifer and ismail, 2005:6). 

4.2 Porosity of Borders 

The porous boundaries have contributed in the cross border offences and insecurity in the region. Similarly, it 

promotes the growing number of different illegal trades such as the smuggling of contra-bands goods, 

contaminated drugs, stolen cars, expired cars prescribed for use in nigeria and other commodities like poultry 

products and shoes among others. The porosity of borders can also be explain in the use of dry trees, oil barrels 

as well as the rims of tires. In drawing these national borders, it makes the boundary to be disordered, poorly 

administered and unsecured. 

4.3 Corruption 

The corrupt activities of the security personnel at the boundaries also pose a grave challenge to the border 

safety. This has resulted in the establishment of numerous checking points which also contributed destructively 

to such border. It is imperatives to know that the checkpoints were not intended to check the passport but to 

obtain money from individuals. Hence, criminals can easily penetrate the borders as the smugglers use to bribe 

their ways into the country. This therefore explains why there are many criminals relating in the trans-border 



Nigeria’s Border and Its Effect on the Economic and Security Development: A Case of Northern Borders 

in Nigeria          

Hamza Shehu Mohammed 

 

55 

 

doings and extremists in the country. As a result, criminals can move with arms and ammunition which cause 

thousands of innocent Nigerians being killed and many died by activities of Islamic sects and also the influx of 

arms in the country as traffickers continue with business without any punishment. 

4.4 Inadequate Manpower and Logistic Support 

Another difficulty related to the border security in the country is the insufficient manpower which has negative 

influence on the security of the national borders. It becomes difficult for the security workers to sufficiently 

control the national borders and efficiently patrol those several passages that lead into the country. The poor 

manpower creates problem during patrolling of these banned routes as smugglers use them as a means of access 

into the country. Likewise, the criminals at times overcome these security workers at the boundaries due to 

shortage personnel and some logistics problems. 

4.5 Poorly Patterned Borders 

African territorial’s borders were artificial design by colonialism which continues to stance a serious danger to 

the country. The partition of these borders was actually carried out by the colonialist without given 

considerations to the values and culture of the people. This can be seen obviously with the cultural bonds of 

marriages, language and celebration of religious festivities among others. It is therefore important to know that 

boundary demarcation affects the ethnic homogeneity and the culture of the neighboring communities to the 

large extent that one will not distinguish a Nigerian citizen from Niger citizen. This is due to their culture and 

dialects in which societies with identical culture and language can be found at different locations of the 

borderline. Hence, it becomes difficult to adhere with migration laws when some members will just alter with 

their identity at any time they need. The faulted demarcation of the borders has been a great challenge to the 

Nigeria’s national security. Even though, thenorthern and western borders were fairly well defined and maybe 

need some slight adjustments and up-dating.some parts of our borders with chad and cameroun have not 

beenwell demarcated which remains the most bond of contention between the two neighboringcountries and 

nigeria. Even along the north-eastern and north-western area where the borders are relatively stable, the 

geographical condition, which is mostly desert, has makes the border so porous. The place is witnessing a kind 

of spill-over problem of conflictand such spill-over effect of this skirmish isan overspill of immigrants from the 

nearby countries to Nigeria. The most worst of it was the inflow of dishonestforeigners who normally do 

involved in illegal activities along the boundaries areas of Nigeria (imobighe, 2003: 35). 

4.6 Problem Security Capabilities 

In many instances, there has been news that as a result of lack security gadget, government cannot be able to 

infiltrate the place of the terrorist or they full-back because of the heavy fighting with their opponents. 

Therefore, the major challenge to Nigeria’s domestic security with regards to inter-security organizations at the 

borders is that the country lacks the abilities that are suitable for intervention in such conflict. In fact, there are 

serious challenges in terms of both the personnel and materials capabilities. 

4.7 Institutional Framework 

The economic community of West African states (ecowas) has some protocols on the free movement of people, 

goods and services which was established by ecowas members in 1979. The key aim of such protocol is to 

enable free movements of people and goods and services inside the West African states without visa; this simply 

implies that any citizen of ecowas who have valid travelling documents and certified international health license 

can enter the whole region without any visa. Hence, all members states were discourage of the use of visa in 

order to simplify the travelling of the people in the sub-region. On the other hand, in spite of the encouraging 



Nigeria’s Border and Its Effect on the Economic and Security Development: A Case of Northern Borders 

in Nigeria          

Hamza Shehu Mohammed 

 

56 

 

declaration of this procedure, it resulted in many negative effects. This protocol permitted the movements of so 

many criminals to transfer across the boundary and also involve in cross border actions under the umbrella of 

such protocol. Whereas terrorists travel from in and outside of the country, traffickers of different kinds of 

illegal imports continue their own business. For example, the current security problems in Nigeria, there were 

rumors that some people among the terrorist groups are also coming from neighboring states; this could not have 

been happen if there were sufficient security personnel at the northeastern borders. The boundaries have paved 

way for trafficking of illegal arms and even armed banditries usually do escape across the borders after 

perpetrating criminalities in the country. All of these tend to jeopardize the social and economic development of 

Nigeria as well as the stability of the polity. Moreover, the image and the integrity of the country is now in 

questioning as citizens of nigerian suffers a lot of intimidation and are subjected to all types of disgrace outside 

the country. 

4.8 Lack of Provision of Basic Amenities 

There is problem of provision of the developmental services by the government in terms of social and basic 

amenities in the rural parts as well as the boundary communities. This is one of the factors that militate against 

the good boundary security.  So when people at the rural places and the border societies are surviving in an 

abject poverty and absence of basic infrastructure, it encourages cross-border activities. This also leads them 

into clandestine actions such as smuggling, armed banditry and many more. Therefore, government needs to 

develop the border communities and the rural areas. 

5. Political Instability and Economic Crisis in Neighboring Countries 

Nigeria is the most populated as well as richest in West African region, in terms of economy, military capability 

and population, Nigeria is above all these countries. This clarifies the most reason why disaster in the 

neighboring countries like instability, diseases and famine has split-over to Nigeria. The speech of the former 

president of Nigeria ibrahim babangida was evident when he states that no one can benefit in the collapse of any 

country’s economy in the region. This basically means that the national security of Nigeria is the safety of its 

close neighbors. This is confirmed in both the scope and strength of cross-border trafficking activities that 

obtain in their everyday interaction. Example, when Ghana’s government was suffering from the economic 

decline, so many inhabitants of Ghana fluttered to Nigeria for living.  

5.1 Globalization and Challenge of Border Security 

At this juncture, it is imperative to trace the consequences of globalization on the national security. Goldstein 

(1991) observes national security as carefully related to the preservation of the boundary of a particular state. To 

him, preservation of the borders can be seen as important part of any governmental institution. Since, in the time 

of any insecurity, threat is considered as instability. The appearance of globalization has come with innovative 

communication and information technology. But, it brings a new threat to the national security which challenges 

the traditional approaches to the national security as an obsolete and insufficient to contest with the new threats. 

The scenario of 9/11 also has further generated important security dialogues both at domestic and the 

international levels far from conventional ideas. Nevertheless, globalization has its encouraging peculiarities 

such as the revolution in communication and transportation at all levels of life. Globalization brands the modes 

of communication easy by making new inventions to conduct relations among various countries in the world. 

Despite these positive developments, there are some undesirable consequences which have continued to 

intimidate the existence of state within the international system. For example, transnational criminality is an 

illegal activity that can transcends beyond the national borders. It has become an easier for lawbreakers to 



Nigeria’s Border and Its Effect on the Economic and Security Development: A Case of Northern Borders 

in Nigeria          

Hamza Shehu Mohammed 

 

57 

 

involve in these secret activities with the name of globalization. Also, cash, goods and people will easily be 

transferred across the borders without any restrictions. So it is difficult to track-down those criminals due 

because the manipulation of technology. Also, the emergence of computer and the internet facilities make it 

possible for these criminals to engage in cybercrimes as locally called ‘yahoo yahoo or yahoo plus’ in which 

they can easily tap into one’s account and do away with all the money. Globalization also brings about moral 

decadence in youth of these days ranging from watching from pornographic films and all sort, thereby exposing 

them to sexual abuse which is inimical to the society. This therefore, requires a new trend of security approach 

as well as shifting from conventional security. These threats include the following: -smuggling of contraband 

goods such as firearms, human trafficking including child and woman, money laundering, fraud/ theft, 

prostitution, proliferation of arms/ nuclear products, illegal migrants, hard drug trafficking such as cocaine, 

heroin and many more. All these pose a threat to Nigeria’s national security and put the state at the risk of 

violence and crisis. These crimes not only pose security threat but also dent the image of the country in which 

citizens are subjected to harassment in abroad, deny the country of foreign investors and also fear to do business 

with the nigeria. In this context terrorism, banditry and other incursions at the borders are main concern for 

states with its highly complicated characteristics as the global world is now faced with an immediate threat. 

6. Some Economic Implications on the Nigeria’s Borders 

6.1 Import and Export Issues 

Nigeria was ranked 147TH out of 189 countries by the World Bank’s ease of doing the business index for the 

year 2014. The country enforces politically assigned restrictions on the imports and exports to improve the local 

industries in the area of meat products, spaghetti and noodles, cement, footwear and furniture among others. It 

also charges heavy duties on other goods. For example, the imported rice levy was at 20%. So, additional trade 

blocks negatively affect the chains of exporters to Nigeria and of indigenous manufacturers each importing 

inputs or exporting outside Nigeria. Export and import prices in Nigeria are nearly double those in the East Asia 

& pacific region. Furthermore, the normal time for importation to Nigeria within 33 days, is 81% greater than it 

counterpart in the Latin America; the average period for the exports from Nigeria stance at 22 days, is at 36% 

longer.  

Despite the growth in the exports and imports, delayed in u-turn time have an adverse effect on the Nigeria’s 

trade capacity. Many firms are unwilling to deal with the inconsistency of transportation periods. Besides, the 

forum’s research shows, corruption is one major basic impediment. The enabling trade (ET) report of 2013 

projected that eliminating trade barrier in the sub-sahara Africa can lead to the increase of 12% in the gdp and 

63% in the exports. In Nigeria, that it will translate to closely $31 billion gdp and $79 billion in the exports, with 

a substantial positive influence on trade in unpreserved or time-sensitive goods such as other foods and drugs 

(enabling trade, 2014). 

6.2 The Trade Barrier Issues in Nigeria 

According to one research forum, it shows that a variety of companies working in Nigeria studies that the 

environment is not conducive to business. Among the four classes of trade barriers, the main and commonly 

mentioned are: inefficiency and impermeability in border administration and lack of transport infrastructure. 

Other problems include: market access barriers, such as the import bans, local content supplies and import and 

export licensing principles that are intended to provide fee protection to indigenous manufacturers from lower 

quality importations. The general business setting also has challenges. A commonly poor security condition (the 

police availability and replying times, and a readiness and capability to investigate criminality) has make it very 



Nigeria’s Border and Its Effect on the Economic and Security Development: A Case of Northern Borders 

in Nigeria          

Hamza Shehu Mohammed 

 

58 

 

difficult to keep operate, especially the expatriates, prevent and safe theft of finished properties and valuable 

possessions. Hence, delays at Nigeria’s seaports are caused by the inefficient border management and seem to 

stems from overall mismanagement, immature transport setup and corruption. Business workers consistently 

criticize about handling with too much government organizations. Arbitrary fees are requested by certain 

government officials, inappropriate clearing staff at the ports, and unfortunate infrastructures (enabling trade, 

2014).  

Illegal agents in the port will look for innocent customers to cheat or total defraud, while pleasing up the valued 

time of the government officials. Many mediators have no registered residence of business or connections to the 

official self-regulating forms of clearing agents. The misunderstanding created by such activities has results in 

cargo overstays at the port.  A number of percentages of Nigeria’s businessmen went through Lagos port at 

apapa and the tin can island port, both in Lagos, for further transport by road to the rest of the country. But the 

roads outside the ports are in such poor condition that moving goods out of apapa can take an entire day instead 

of 45-60 minutes. That delay is one contributor to port congestion. It also poses a major challenge for importers 

of time-sensitive or temperature-controlled products. A tyre manufacturer exporting to nigeria described the 

impact of nigeria’s port challenges: “our nigerian business partner is unable to plan his off-take and cash flow 

owing to the fact that clearance from the port can take as few as four days to as much as four to six 

weeks.Because of this, at different times, our customer is overstocked and under-stocked, causing sporadic 

off-take and shipments” (enabling trade, 2014). 

Another typical example can be cited with tropical general investments limited (tgi) is a large diversified 

conglomerate with operations and investments in several West African markets, morocco, United Arab Emirates 

and South Africa. The bulk of tgi’s operations are in Nigeria. It produces and sells poultry, fish, fruit juices, 

dairy beverages, frozen foods, cotton, cooking oil, pharmaceuticals and marine vessels; it also provides 

specialized oil field and dry dock services.  

The forum reviewed orc fishing that catches processes and packages shrimp and prawns for export to France, 

Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and other European Union (eu) nations. Like other businesses in Nigeria, orc 

face trade barriers in market access, border administration, telecommunications and transport infrastructure, and 

business environment.  

6.3 Market Access 

Orc’s processing and packaging facility needed approval from the Nigeria federal department of fisheries (fdf) 

before it could operate and export. The eu also requires the orc facility to be maintained to certain standards. 

Export approval can be a bit tough, but the fdf manages ongoing inspections on behalf of the eu.  

6.4 Port Congestion and Administrative Delays 

A major problem for importers is the unclear and unnecessary product classification and tariff assignment 

process of customs. Reclassification to product codes with higher duties, along with arbitrary demands for these 

higher duties, is a constant reason for delays in clearing, additional storage costs and, ultimately, port congestion. 

Many importers end up paying 15-20% in clearing process costs, instead of the statutory costs of about 5%. The 

delays in administrative process can easily be between five and 15 days, which mean higher payments for 

storage, personnel and demurrage. Altogether, a $100,000 shipment that should cost $6,000-8,000 to clear could 

end up costing $30,000-35,000. Clearly, this unpredictable cost increase deters some firms from entering the 

industry and can drive up the end-price for products by 20-30%.  

 



Nigeria’s Border and Its Effect on the Economic and Security Development: A Case of Northern Borders 

in Nigeria          

Hamza Shehu Mohammed 

 

59 

 

Finally, Nigeria’s economy remains fragile, underdeveloped, and heavily dependent on oil, mismanagement of 

resources, unsuitable development plans and lack of welfare programed. Indeed, the economy is very important 

in equipping and maintaining the security agents in the pursuit of their assignments outside Nigeria’s borders. 

7. Some Selected Solutions to the Problems Related to Nigeria’s Economy 

The volume of international trade with Nigeria, while substantial, could grow significantly with the removal of 

supply chain barriers. The following projects and changes should help to reduce the operating risks for both 

foreign and domestic companies, and spur Nigeria’s economic growth.  

7.1 Optimization of Border Administration Processes 

Nigeria customs service launched a web portal in 2013 to provide information relevant to importers and 

exporters. The next step: facilitation of the actual clearing process, including integration via the portal of other 

government agencies’ procedures and the private sector. This should begin with the product types subject to the 

longest port delays, followed by other strategic product types. Second, a clear set of process instructions for 

each relevant government agency should be developed for each product type, along with a full list of required 

approvals. The single window portal should enable importers to register, submit documents, make payments and 

track the entire process online. This should help to minimize the number of people working in ports. Third, the 

port should be secured, with access limited to registered, licensed clearing agents, or individuals or company 

representatives with confirmed products in the port.  Fourth, government agencies should quickly transition to 

keeping digital records to enable faster record retrieval and elimination of duplicate search processes.  

7.2 Infrastructure Upgrades 

In the near term, port congestion can be notably eased with faster clearance processes. However, given Nigeria’s 

growth prospects, the country must make a long-term commitment to expanding the capacity of the port 

infrastructure. The Nigerian government already is investing heavily in infrastructure – for example, in a 

planned seaport in the developing Lagos free trade zone. Almost $12 billion in new port infrastructure has been 

announced and completion is expected by 2020. The government is also refurbishing the rail network, with $16 

billion in projects under way. Plans to integrate the rail network with the ports and industrial sectors are yet to 

be determined, however. Another $16 billion in road projects has been announced, but none explicitly remedies 

the congestion at port. The roads near the port have not been upgraded. 

7.3 Rationalization of the Duty and Tariff Structures 

Nigeria customs service should aim to further rationalize its set of import duties and restrictions to avoid the 

possibility of arbitrary product reclassification and to align with global cost-per-shipment levels. Many of the 

companies interviewed indicate that the Nigerian government should support local industry and job creation by 

reducing duties for raw materials and ensuring that the definitions of a raw material or finished product are 

indisputable. 

7.4 Improving Security and General Business Environment 

Companies such as orc need adequate security to run their business without fear of piracy or militant attacks. 

Such security could increase industrial output by 10-20% almost immediately, according to company estimates. 

Joint action plans between the government and the private sector could assist in heightening safety, enabling 

more complex, value-added output, creating manufacturing jobs, and making prices more competitive for the 

consumer. Tackling matters is vital for Nigeria’s trade competitiveness. Some good movements have already 

begun. For example, a trade facilitation committee was established to coordinate implementation of ongoing 

projects; it should ensure this happens within announced time frames. However, these problems in 



Nigeria’s Border and Its Effect on the Economic and Security Development: A Case of Northern Borders 

in Nigeria          

Hamza Shehu Mohammed 

 

60 

 

infrastructure, safety and corruption must be resolved and combined with border administration amendments to 

allow companies in Nigeria to maintain cost-competitiveness in imports and exports.  

8. Conclusion 

Reading through this paper, it will gives you a strong fact that nigeria’s unclear borders will always bring 

tensions between nigeria and it neighboring countries. Therefore, it is the responsibility of Nigeria to protect her 

territory. Such responsibilities are duties of Nigeria’s government through its security agencies. It also a center 

on the improvements of border security because of it is important and its protection is equated to national 

security. The challenges posed by trans-border activities are signs of extensive danger to the political, social and 

economic stability of states. The extent of these crimes committed lead to the widespread fear, violence and 

crisis; also undermine the security of the states. It is obvious that security in Nigeria and its borders seem to be 

porous. However, the defense and security arrangement of Nigeria has much to do with our borders. When 

borders cease to function effectively, different forms of crimes will take place in the country and the security of 

the country will be challenged as Nigeria is experiencing in recent times. For example, the terrorist groups that 

infiltrated the country causing security challenges and political conflict. Therefore, it is not well with our border 

security with the vulnerabilities of fears that befall the country. Hence, the following recommendations are made 

for active border security in Nigeria and they are; first, introduction of new techniques in training of the security 

personnel is important aspect of effective border security and also for them to discharge their duties effectively 

and efficiently. On the economic front, it is the duty of our policy makers to create policies that will checkmate 

the movement of foodstuffs around the borers. Similarly, Nigeria must relate with its neighbors to come out with 

meaningful ideas by establishing industries in their countries. Nigerian businessmen can also be encouraged to 

establish joint venture participation with potential investors in Benin republic. This is to assist the country from 

making its territory a dumping ground to foreign companies. On the home front, Nigeria has two options: the 

first is to increase coercive measures to combat trafficking and smuggling. 

References 

Afolayan A. A. (1999) “Trans-Border Movement and Trading: A case study of a borderland in 

 southwestern Nigeria” 

    Adepoju, A. (2005), Migration in West Africa, A Paper prepared for the Policy Analysis and  Research 

Programme of the Global Commission on International Migration, Geneva.  

Adeola, G. L. and Ogirai, J. C. (2010) “The Political and Security Implications of Migration in  West Africa: 

Shaping Foreign Policy Direction in the Sub-Region” presented at the 2nd  Learned Confernce, 

College of Business and Social Sciences, Crawford University, Faith City, Igbesa, Ogun State, Nigeria. 

From 25th - 27th March,  

Bakut, B. (2006). “The Environment, Peace and Conflict in Africa” in Shedrack G. Best (ed.), 

 Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies in West Africa, Ibadan: Spectrum. 

Castles S. and Miller J. M. (2009) the Age of Migration: International Population Movements in  Modern 

World. 4th Edition, Palgrave Macmillan, New York.  

Carling, J. (2002). Country Profile: Cape Verde: Towards the end of emigration?” in Migration Policy Institute, 

Migration Information Source. 

Eze, O. & J. Hetman, (2005). Security Sector Governance in West Africa: Case Study of Benin, Cote 

 D’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal, Lagos: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. 

Ginifer, J. & O. Ismail (2005). Armed Violence and Poverty in Nigeria, Center for International 



Nigeria’s Border and Its Effect on the Economic and Security Development: A Case of Northern Borders 

in Nigeria          

Hamza Shehu Mohammed 

 

61 

 

 Cooperation and Security. 

Gugler, J. (1969) “On the Theory of Rural – Urban Migration: The Case of sub-Saharan Africa”inBeijer G.(Ed) 

Migration, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.  

Imobighe, T.A, (2003). Nigeria’s Defense and National Security Linkages: A Framework of Analysis,  Ibadan: 

Heinemann. 

Isa, A.A.M. (2007). “National Defense College and Nigeria’s National Security”, First University of 

 Ibadan/National Defense College Distinguished Lecture, 16th November. 

Kathleen C. (2014) “Boko Haram and Nigeria's Economy: Why the Poorest Suffer Most” 

Lorenzo G. B (2011). “Development and Development Paradigms a (Reasoned)  Review of  Prevailing 

Visions” (Easypol module 107). 

Marshall Barbara, (Ed) (2006) The Politics of Migration: A survey. Routledge, London 

Nwolise, O.B.C. (2006). “National Security and Sustainable Democracy”, in E.O. Ojo (ed), Challenges of 

 Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria, Ibadan: John Archers. 

Omolaran A. (2013) “Globalization and Nigeria Border Security: Issues and Challenges” 

Ogunsanwo A (1990). The Transformation of Nigeria-Scenarios and Metaphors. Inaugural  Lecture 

University of Lagos, p. 2. 

Ojo, O. B. J.(1999) “Integration in ECOWAS: successes and difficulties” in Bach D. C.(ed)  Regionalisation 

in Africa: Integration and Disintegration Cambridge: James Currey Publishers  

Simon O. E. (2011) “Trans-border Crime and Its Socio-economic Impact on Developing  Economies” 

 

 

 

 

Copyrights 

Copyright for this article is retained by the author(s), with first publication rights granted to the journal. 


