NIGERIA: GOVERNMENT UNDER PRESSURE TO LIFT COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TRADE RESTRICTIONS

NIGERIA: GOVERNMENT UNDER PRESSURE TO LIFT COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TRADE RESTRICTIONS

   Wed, 20 November 2019

Pressure is mounting on the Nigerian government to lift trade restrictions with Benin and Niger as food prices rise in cities and protests ignite in border regions. The economy’s sluggish growth, accelerating inflation, and weak revenue collection, including from the oil sector that is suffering from a spree of vandalism attacks, pose further risk for the implementation of the 2020 budget and the sustainability of debt servicing.