Nigeria’s Benin border closure and what it means for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

The signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2018 and its entry into force in May 2019 marked a historic milestone in Africa’s economic integration. Designed to create a single continental market for goods and services, the agreement is expected to significantly increase intra-African trade and expand consumer and business spending across the continent. However, recent developments — most notably Nigeria’s unilateral closure of its land borders — raise concerns about whether African countries are prepared to implement the commitments required for the AfCFTA to succeed.

In August 2019, only months after the agreement entered into force, Nigeria closed its land borders with neighbouring Benin, Niger, and Cameroon in an effort to curb smuggling of agricultural goods such as rice, tomatoes, and poultry. While the measure aimed to protect domestic producers, it effectively halted formal cross-border trade and disrupted regional supply chains. The closure had immediate economic consequences: traders were unable to move goods across borders, consumers faced rising food prices, and informal traders — many of whom are small and medium-sized enterprises operating along the Nigeria–Benin corridor — were particularly affected. Given that a large share of Benin’s imports is destined for the Nigerian market, the policy also had significant spillover effects for neighbouring economies.

The decision highlights a broader implementation gap between the commitments African countries undertake in trade agreements and the policies they adopt in practice. Nigeria’s border closure runs counter not only to the spirit of the AfCFTA — which seeks to promote the free movement of goods and services — but also to longstanding obligations under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the World Trade Organization. These frameworks commit member states to eliminating quantitative restrictions and non-tariff barriers in order to facilitate regional trade.

The episode serves as an early warning for the AfCFTA. For the agreement to deliver meaningful economic benefits, African governments must demonstrate the political will to respect and implement their commitments. Rather than resorting to unilateral trade restrictions, governments should rely on existing mechanisms within the AfCFTA — such as enhanced customs cooperation and trade facilitation — to address challenges like smuggling. Ultimately, the success of the AfCFTA will depend on translating political ambition into concrete policy actions and embedding continental integration within national development strategies and public awareness.

Read the full blog post here.