'A trip to Seme-Krake: mending the cracks in the Benin- Nigeria trade relationship'

Abstract

On 21 August this year, the Seme-Krake border between Nigeria and Benin was closed without prior notice. This was part of a broader crackdown by the Nigerian authorities to close all land borders between Nigeria and its neighboring countries. Today, over two months later, the border remains closed, with vehicles piled up on either side. Border closures are all too familiar at SemeKrake, but this is reportedly the longest closure in about forty years. This mammoth closure reflects deep fractions in the cross-border trading system. The cracks at Seme-Krake are particularly deep since the border feeds the ECOWAS Abidjan-Lagos Corridor.