Nigerians support free movement and trade with other countries but find it difficult to cross borders
- NOIPolls
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
News release
Most Nigerians support free trade and open borders for work and trade within West Africa, but in reality, crossing borders remains difficult, Afrobarometer’s latest survey shows.
Eight in 10 Nigerians would prefer the government to make it easier to trade with other countries, including more than two-thirds who would prefer open trade with all countries worldwide.
And seven in 10 say people in West Africa should be able to move freely across international borders to trade or work in other countries.
Yet nearly two-thirds of Nigerians say crossing international borders is “difficult” or “very difficult.”
Key findings
Most Nigerians support free trade with the rest of the world: Four-fifths (80%) say it is better for the country’s economy if the government makes it easier to trade with other countries, although 18% would prefer to limit international trade to protect Nigerian businesses (Figure 1).
If the government wanted to make it easier to trade with other countries, a majority (68%) of citizens would favour open trade with all countries worldwide, rather than limiting it to certain countries. About one-fourth (23%) would privilege African countries for trade, while 5% would prefer that the focus be on countries in West Africa (Figure 2).
Seven in 10 citizens (69%) say West Africans should be able to move freely across borders in order to trade or work, while three in 10 (29%) think the government should restrict the cross-border movement of people and goods (Figure 3).
Nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents say that, in practice, crossing international borders is “difficult” or “very difficult” (Figure 4).
Afrobarometer Surveys
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Nine survey rounds in up to 42 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 10 surveys are expected to be completed in mid-2025. Afrobarometer’s national partners conduct face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice.
The Afrobarometer team in Nigeria, led by NOIPolls, interviewed a nationally representative, random, stratified probability sample of 1,600 adult Nigerians between 19 June and 17 July 2024. A sample of this size yields country-level results with a margin of error of +/-2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Previous standard surveys were conducted in Nigeria in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2022.
Charts
Figure 1: Open trade or limit trade? | by demographic group | Nigeria | 2024
Respondents were asked: Which of the following statements is closest to your view?
Statement 1: It is better for our economy if the government makes it easier for Nigeria to trade with other countries to create economic opportunities.
Statement 2: Our country should limit trade with other countries in order to protect Nigerian producers.
Figure 2: Which countries should leaders make it easier to trade with? | Nigeria | 2024
Respondents were asked: If Nigeria’s leaders are going to make it easier to trade with other countries to create economic opportunities, which countries should they make it easier to trade with?
Figure 3: Free movement of West Africans | Nigeria | 2024
Respondents were asked: Which of the following statements is closest to your view?
Statement 1: People living in West Africa should be able to move freely across international borders in order to trade or work in other countries.
Statement 2: In order to protect their own citizens, the Nigerian government should limit the cross-border movement of people and goods.
Figure 4: Difficulty in cross-border movement? | Nigeria | 2024
Respondents were asked: In your opinion, how easy or difficult is it for people in West Africa to cross international borders in order to work or trade in other countries, or haven’t you heard enough to say?
For more information, please contact:
NOIPolls
Raphael Mbaegbu
Telephone: +234 63292096
Email: rmbaegbu@noi-polls.com
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