Survival Strategies of Women in Informal Cross Border Trade Along
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Global Journal of HUMAN SOCIAL SCIENCE Sociology, Economics & Political Science Volume 12 Issue 9 Version 1.0 June 2012 Type: Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Inc. (USA) Online ISSN: 2249-460x & Print ISSN: 0975-587X Survival Strategies of Women in Informal Cross Border Trade Along Lagos-Seme Border Axis By Jubril Olayiwola Jawando , Ezekiel Oluwagbemiga Adeyemi & Busoye Oguntola-Laguda Lagos State University, Ojo Abstract - Background : Cross border- trade has been seen to have gender dimension. Women are seen to be engaged in informal cross-border trade along the borders. Most times women are facing a lot of challenges in trying to transport their goods from customs officials and other security agents. Despite these difficulties, they still engage in this informal trade along this border. This paper examines the coping strategies of women involved in informal cross-border trade. Methods : This study is based on Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) conducted with 50 informal traders, in-depth-interviews conducted with security agents and drivers along Lagos- Seme border. GJHSS-C Classification : FOR Code: 130302, 130308 Survival Strategies of Women in Informal Cross Border Trade Along Lagos-Seme Border Axis Strictly as per the compliance and regulations of: © 2012. Jubril Olayiwola Jawando , Ezekiel Oluwagbemiga Adeyemi & Busoye Oguntola-Laguda. This is a research/review paper, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Survival Strategies of Women in Informal Cross Border Trade Along Lagos-Seme Border Axis α σ ρ Jubril Olayiwola Jawando , Ezekiel Oluwagbemiga Adeyemi & Busoye Oguntola-Laguda Abstract - Background : Cross border- trade has been seen often time these alternatives include cross-border to have gender dimension. Women are seen to be engaged in trading and migration to neighbouring states for trading informal cross-border trade along the borders. Most times 12 activities (IOM Southern Africa Newsletter, 2010). 0 women are facing a lot of challenges in trying to transport their According to Matorova (2008) the main push and pull 2 goods from customs officials and other security agents. factors towards Informal Cross Border Trade (ICBT) are Despite these difficulties, they still engage in this informal trade along this border . This paper examines the coping strategies based on the lack of formal employment due to June of women involved in informal cross-border trade. economic reforms, rural-urban migration and low wages Methods : This study is based on Focus Group Discussion The United Nations Development Fund for 29 (FGDs) conducted with 50 informal traders, in-depth-interviews Women (UNIFEM, 2010) found that Zimbabwe and conducted with security agents and drivers along Lagos-Seme Swaziland Women in informal Cross Border Trade border. (WICBT) engaged in it as survivalists’ strategy to reduce Findings : The study confirms the plight of women involved in the harsh economic condition they undergo. Thus cross border trade and their desperation to survive in their bid informal cross border trade is a significant contributor to to help create additional sources of income for their poverty reduction, employment and wealth creation household. This study identifies the reasons women engaged in informal cross border trade as a survival strategy and these (Mzizi, 2010). Small Scale Cross Border Trade is strategies include coping with customs officials and other widespread as thousands of people mostly residents of security agents, paying additional money to drivers to bribe contiguous border areas across the borders everyday to security agents, moving goods in different vehicles to beat exploit differences in prices, wages, and regulatory security agents at check points among others. practices (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation, Conclusion : Our findings suggest that despite the difficulties 2007). encountered by these women in informal trade, they still Furthermore, Cross border trade has been seen Volume XII Issue IX Version I sustain their families with the little income they realized from to have gender dimension; women are more actively ) DDD C D this business. There is therefore the need to make the ( involved in border-trading activities such as moving customs laws more flexible and accommodating for these ce goods through border crossing points as this is one categories of women. n activity women can take-up with little or no resources e ci (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation, 2007). I. Introduction The neoliberal policy introduced in the 80s across some al S ci o African States which led to privatization of public S omen dominate small-scale enterprises and enterprises resulted in many job losses. It was the have been seen to be successful in the Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAP) introduced as sustenance of their businesses (Banwo, 2004: uman W a palliative measure that encouraged more women to be Chukwu, 1999).The West African region is noted self sustaining by looking inward to assist and f H significantly for high volume of trade that goes on within cushioned the effects of the structural adjustment its borders on daily basis. This trade cuts across all al o n programmes introduced by the World Bank (Morris and r ages, religion, ethnic groups and gender and it involves u Saul, 2000) The Involvement of women in Cross Border o both formal and informal trade. Informal trade is an Trade (CBT) has further equipped them with earnings integral, but unrecognized component of Africa’s al J and resources to contribute significantly to the upkeep b economy. Estimates show that, on average, 60 percent lo of their household and still empowers them with financial G of trade is informal trade (Macamo, 1999, Ackello- independence and control of their own resources Ogutu, 1998, Minde and Nakhumwa 1998). The current (Morris and Saul, 2000). However, their contributions are economic and socio-political environment of sub- being neglected and due to their lack of access to Saharan Africa has forced an increasing percentage of credit, knowledge and technology, their businesses do sub-Saharan African’s to seek alternative livelihood not grow (Aina and Odebiyi, 1998; Osuala, 1991; strategies, some of which include high risk activities, - Erinosho and Fapohunda, 1988). This is not surprising since they are perceived as second-class citizens in Author α : E-mail : [email protected] patriarchal societies (Olutayo, 2005) Author σ : E-mail : [email protected] Despite the lack of formal statistical information Author ρ: Department of Sociology Lagos State University, Ojo. on CBT, informal cross border trade tends to go © 2012 Global Journals Inc. (US) Survival Strategies of Women in Informal Cross Border Trade along Lagos-Seme Border Axis unreported. An estimate suggested that around 70 maladaptive, biological, psychological and social percent of women of productive age are involved in constituents. It also refers to mechanisms employed by CBT, with women representing between 70-80 percent people to combat and live through an ordeal. Survival of ICBT trades are found in Africa and about 80 percent strategies are believed to facilitate the recognition, of ICBT in Nigeria are women (UNIFEM and UNECA, naming and making sense of the varied sequence of 2010). Cultural and ethnic affinities, common historical traumatic events (Valent, 1998). Fight and flight are the background and existing functional interdependences two survival strategies generally recognized (APA, among Africa countries continue to provide a strong 1994), Charles Darwin (1872-1965) identified these two impulse for cross border cooperation among Africans strategies as evolutionary attributes which favoured (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation, 2007). survival. On closer inspection however traumatic stress 12 Many studies have been done on CBT, WICBT responses that is ways of dealing with stress stretches 20 and the nature of Informal Cross Border Trade (ICBT) by more than fight and flight responses. (Valent, 1998). many organization and scholars such as World Bank, Valent (1998) in his book; From Survival to June UNIFEM, and United Nations Economic Commission for Fulfillment: A Framework for the Life-trauma Dialectic Africa (UNECA) but unfortunately most of these studies, gave a framework which have in it meaningful and great 302 focused on all other aspect of CBT and WICBT with little varieties of stress responses and he suggested eight emphasis on their survival strategies. Of all the previous strategies of survival that make up this framework. The studies done on CBT and WICBT, little have been done combinations, permutations, overtones and harmonics on Women Cross Border Traders in Nigeria not to of these eight strategies of survival provide the musical mention their survival strategies and this has led many story of traumatic stress and it sequence. These eight Nigerians to perceive all cross border traders as strategies of survival by Valent (1998) also have smugglers. Nigerian economy is geared towards much appraisals that evoke them. They include: foreign consumptions and there is an increasing i. Rescue : This survival strategy is evoked by the preference for foreign products and the craze to make appraisal “must rescue / save others”, and it