BILATERAL RELATIONS AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN WEST AFRICAN SUB REGION

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION 

In the contemporary settings, diplomatic relations among nations have been the major defining element of

international relations. Therefore, nations states, no matter their degree and level of development and size depends on one another for survival. This is in view of the fact that in international politics, nations are in Island unto themselves or self sufficient. This need for economic, political cultural and other aspects of relationships becomes necessary and inevitable among nations irrespective of their size and geographical locations. 

Equally nations, weak or strong, small or big aspires to be recognized in negotiation with other countries in order to protect their national interests. Hence the need for international, cooperation and mutual dependency among nations remain inevitable.  

Nigeria and the Republic of Niger were colonial creation born out of series of negations, treaties and conquests by Britain and France, in the first decade of the 20th Century. The two countries share common land boundaries which stretches to over thousand kilometers. Both countries got their political independence from their respective colonial masters in 1960 and have since exchange diplomatic missions and entered into various bilateral relations which border on trade, industry, education, culture and politics with a view to furthering their respective national interests which are central to international relations.

It is an underlying fact that in the pursuit of international politics, there is no permanent interest. Whether interests being pursued by two countries are complementary, or the relationship is on interdependent basis, then the relation is likely to be good and enduring. But where interests clash, the relationship is likely to suffer because of geographical contiguity as well as similar historical background of both Nigeria and the Republic of Niger, it is expected that there are both tendencies for good relations between the two countries as well as strains depending on the manner in which the leaders of two countries conduct their respective foreign relations. 

This study therefore, examines the nature bilateral relations andeconomy cooperationbetween Nigeria and Niger Republic with the view to investigating the basis of this relations and cooperation and more precisely for explaining the prospects for broadening ties and cooperation between the two nations forgeneral wellbeing of their citizens.

1.2 RESEARCH PROBLEM         

The research problem of this project stems from the way and manner Nigeria – Niger Relations have been carried out and maintained.

Some nations been great because of how they have established and been maintaining relations with other

nations. 

One could imagine how Niger will survive, given that the country has structural shortfall of foodstuffs depend on imports particularly from Nigeria. For instance, Nigeria and

Niger Republic have over many decades maintain economic cultural and political ties. This study however specifically focus mainly on the economic relations between these two sovereign nations. 

Economic relations between Niger and Nigeria has contributed immensely in the development and improvement of these two economics as they share common frontiers in the west African sub-region. There exists trade of commodities between them, ranging from farm produce to manufactured goods respectively.

It is in view of the above that study investigates the nature of economic relations between Niger and Nigeria and how the pair together from 2001 – 2005.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTION 

1.  What are the bases for Nigeria – Niger economic

relations?

2.  What are the primary objectives of the economic relationship between Nigeria and Niger?

3.  How are these objectives being achieved?

1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 

1.  To examine the basis for the relationship between Nigeria and Niger?

2.  To analyse the primary objectives of the relationship between Nigeria and Niger?

3.  To determine whether those objectives are being achieved 

1.5 ASSUMPTION OF THE STUDY 

The study us based on the assumption that:-

1.  Nigeria and Niger appreciate the needs for bilateral relationship to foster unity between the two countries.

2.  Nigeria and Niger promotes and maintains a stable economic relations for development and prosperity.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 

Since independence, Nigeria and Niger maintain stable economic relations with the view to improving the lives of their citizens. This has a great impact on the economy of two countries especially on the basis of their proximity (They share Border) as they maintains trade routes and economic exchange for trading goods and exchange of various resources. Despite this long existing economic relations between Nigeria and Niger, they are still yet to find a profound solutions towards sustaining and developing their economies specifically as intends to give an overview of Nigeria and Niger Relations from 2001 to 2005 with

particular emphasis on factors that influence Nigeria – Niger economic relations either positively or negatively. 

Fundamentally, the study is aimed at assessing the economic relations between Nigeria and Niger with the view to understand the positive and negative impacts of the relations. In addition how Nigeria and Niger economic relation can be improved especially to enhance the economic status of their citizens. 

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY        

There are many aspects of relations that exist between

Nigeria and Niger i.e economic, cultural political relations. This study will only cover the economic aspects of the relations between Nigeria and Niger. 

This is perhaps because of the importance and benefits that could be derived from this relations to both Nigeria and Niger and because economic relation is the major relation among the relationship between Nigeria and Niger.

This study will also cover the period of 2001 – 2005 as the limitation of the study.

1.8 METHODOLOGY 

The research methodology gives the description of the various steps involved in carrying out a research to ensure the validity and reliability of the study. The research methodology this study is structured into; research design, population of the study, method of data collection, and document analysis.

1.8.1 Research Design

Asika (1991), defines a research design as the structuring of investigation aimed at identifying variables and their relationships to one another designing a research is an assurance against failure. The research design is further viewed the framework or plan for a study that is used in collecting and analyzing a set of data.

It is the method of the research to use by the research to achieve the goal; the topic and variables to be studied determine the particular research design that would be applied in the course of the research. The  descriptive analysis is suitable for this study and content analysis was the method of the research applied. 

Content analysis as a method of investigation is adopted in this study. This involves reading meaning into materials that are collected for the purpose of achieving reliable and verifiable conclusion. A writer like Selltiz define content analysis as a research techniques for the objective, systematic and qualitative description of the manifest content of communication (Selltiz C, 1977)

Kelinger (1973) defined content analysis as the method of studying and analyzing the bilateral relation objective and qualitative manner for explaining variables. Since the study involved the analysis of some variable in written words and other documented materials.

1.8.2 Population of the Study

According to Wimmer and Dominick (1987) define

population in the context of research as the entire unit of analysis to be studied by the researcher in order to arrive at a conclusion. As Yusuf, (2011:46) identified in Kombo Tambo (2006:76) that population in academic research is all about a group of individuals, object or items from which samples are drawn taken for analysis.

In whatever, degree or way, population could be building, animals, materials and humans. In this note, bilateral relation and economic cooperation between Nigeria and Niger in West African sub-region will be study.

1.8.3 Method of Data Collection 

In this research work, secondary data is relevant in achieving the objectives of the research, the use of secondary source of data is the main method of data collection adopted in this research work, this method is adopted due to intrinsic values. The secondary source in this study includes material like; Newspapers, Magazines, Textbooks, Internet, Journals Government Publication, official documents e.t.c which help me to gain An insight into the nature of bilateral relation and economic cooperation between the Nigeria and Niger in West African Sub-Region.

1.8.4 DOCUMENTARY ANALYSIS 

Data gathered from documents relevant to the study are analyzed, the document include those from text books,

internet, journals, writings etc. 

1.9 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 

Theoretical framework gives direction to researchers. It is on the basis that linkages approach is chosen. The linkages approach, according to Prankel (1973:42), is one of the latest theoretical approaches to study of international politics linkages any recurrent sequences of behaviours that originates on system and reacted in another. It offers systematic tools of analysis for investigation of perennial problems of the next between domestic politics and the international political spheres as two system interaction.

The linkages theory is important in studying and explaining relationship between and among countries of the world. In this wise, this theory will also be employed in explaining the economic relations that exist between Nigeria and Niger as the name of the theory implies.

1.10  DEFINITION OF THE BASIC CONCEPTS

For the very of this research, two concepts are frequently used. This include Bilateral Relation, economic cooperation and the concepts are this operationalized.

Bilateral Relation can be defined as the relationship between two independent nations, it could be cultural economic and political factors influence this relationship.

Economic cooperation is component of international cooperation that seeks to generate the condition neither to facilitate the processes of trade and financial integration in the international arena by implementing actions with purpose of obtaining actions with economic benefit in the medium and long-term.

      1.11 SCHEME OF CHAPTERS 

Chapter one of this work focuses mainly on the introduction of the research and the basic concept, such as scope of the study, significance of the study, objectives of the study, assumption of the study, theoretical framework and methodology.

Chapter two of this work is the literature review, the historical and geographical background of Nigeria and Niger Republic.

Chapter three of this work will look at the bilateral relationship in a economic way between Nigeria and Niger from period of 2001 – 2005.

Chapter four covers summary, conclusion and

recommendations of this work.