Abstract:
Tsamiya and Lolo Markets existed since the pre-colonial period. They are
located at the extreme end of Nigeria's international border with Benin Republic
in the north-west. The attainment of independence of the two countries by their
former colonial masters has contributed significantly in the economic
development of those two border markets. The geographical proximity of these
border markets facilitates cross-border trade in the area.
It would be recalled that the European partition and eventual colonization
of Africa created a lot of tariff walls within West African sub-region, particularly
between the Francophone and English speaking countries. With the attainment of
independence, the pattern of trade relations developed across the border areas of
Nigeria and Benin. Citizens of these areas eagerly entered in to the cross border
trade as an easy means of living. Consequently, there developed large markets
with full of goods traded and people who come daily from across areas of the two
countries to buy and sell. Tsamiya and Lolo are typical of these border markets
which developed out of this economic necessity. The large-scale economic
activities taking place in Tsamiya and Lolo towns attracted a large number of
people to settle in the towns. Eventually, the same ethnic groups are virtually
found along the border areas of the two countries namely Nigeria and Benin.
