(a) Give five reasons why your country has more trading partners outside Africa. (b) Outline any five ways by which the trade between your country and other...

(a) Five reasons why my country (Nigeria) has more trading partners outside Africa

• Similar products within Africa: most African countries produce the same primary goods (cash crops, minerals), so they have little to exchange with one another.
• Demand for manufactured goods: Nigeria imports machinery, vehicles, and technology which are produced mainly in Europe, America and Asia, not in Africa.
• Colonial ties and established links: long-standing trade relations built during the colonial era orient trade toward former colonial powers overseas.
• Ready market for raw materials/oil: industrialised countries outside Africa provide a large market for Nigeria's crude oil and raw materials.
• Poor intra-African transport and communication: weak road, rail and shipping links between African countries make trade with them difficult and costly.

Other reasons: differences in currency and trade barriers within Africa, and the higher purchasing power of countries outside Africa.

(b) Five ways trade between my country and other African countries could be improved

• Improve transport links (roads, railways, shipping and air routes) connecting African countries.
• Remove or reduce trade barriers such as high tariffs and border restrictions, and strengthen bodies like ECOWAS and the AfCFTA.
• Diversify production so that countries produce different goods that can be exchanged.
• Introduce a common currency or better currency-exchange arrangements to ease payment.
• Promote regional cooperation, joint industries and common markets, and improve communication and information about available goods.