Buhari’s visit to Trump: A missed opportunity?

On April 30, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) of Nigeria made history as the first African president to meet with United States of America’s President Donald J. Trump in Washington. Highlights of agreements reached during the visit include cooperation and collaboration between the two countries on security in which the USA confirmed the sale of twelve Super Tucano jets, including other military software and hardware required in the continued fight against terrorism in Nigeria. Nigeria however, lost the American market for sale of its crude oil. While the USA got a deal to sell agricultural produce to Nigeria. Nigeria is to create a level playing ground through removal of trade barrier while the USA under the principle of reciprocity is to provide aid to the tune of US$1 billion to Nigeria. Simply put, products from the USA can come into Nigeria unhindered for an aid of only US$ 1 billion. In what form will the aid come into Nigeria and how will Nigeria pay back? Overall, some Nigerians say that PMB’s visit to the USA is not worth celebrating. But PMB got aid, food and sophisticated military equipment. So Buhari’s visit to Trump wasn’t a missed opportunity particularly to those in the government.

If we are sincere to ourselves, we should not forget that in world affairs, it is known that Nigeria is a less developed, conflict-infested and raw material supplying country. The USA, on the other hand, is a developed and industrialized country. So, one would have expected the bilateral relationship between the two countries to be of more strategic importance to Nigeria than the USA. It would have been worthwhile if Nigeria designed its relations with the USA or any nation for that matter as a vehicle to systematically accomplish its economic and democratic development. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s history of failed efforts to develop as a nation since independence on 1 October 1960 is of grave concern.

Currently, Nigeria faces several domestic challenges in security, economic and political spheres. Despite these challenges one may argue that Nigeria is still the “giant of Africa” bearing in mind its population, oil wealth, and political influence in the region. Some say that Nigeria’s domestic stability is poor with high unemployment and underemployment rates, and thus, it has lost its status as the “giant of Africa.”Whatever position is taken, Nigeria is expected to put its house in order by ensuring that the fight against terrorism, corruption and impunity is progressing rapidly in the positive direction at state and federal levels.

This writer is of the view that it would have been in the interest of the USA that Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world, become truly an economic giant and a democratically vibrant nation. When Nigeria assumes this hegemonic position, it would serve as a reference for regional security, stability and growth. It would have equally, been a thing of joy for Nigeria to maintain a strong and mutually beneficial bilateral relations with the world’s most powerful economy and democracy.

So what is PMB’s trade policy towards the USA? Honestly, this writer does not know. What then is Trump’s Africa trade policy? Africa’s trade not a priority for Trump because of his “America first” policy. It is only African countries with stable polity and good governance, economic prosperity, technological advancement, moral authority as well as visionary leadership that may find it easier to influence Trump’s decisions in a bilateral relationship with the USA.

So is the USA willing to trade with Nigeria? Yes, but certain conditions must be fulfilled. Those conditions are spelt out in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). This is a USA trade legislation seeking to open markets to African exports particularly fabrics, fashion and agricultural products duty free. Under the AGOA, Sub-Saharan African countries will take part with some technical assistance and support provided by the USA so that they can fully realize the gains of the Act.

Sub-Saharan African countries will be eligible when they must have “shown progress made towards a market-based economy through removal of subsidies, price controls and privatization, respect for the rule of law, embracing general democratic principles, human and workers’ rights issues, and set a minimum age for child labour.” Such countries must also show progress in such areas as “elimination of barriers to US trade and investment; protection of intellectual property; efforts to combat corruption; policies to reduce poverty, increase availability of health care and educational opportunities.” Also, to be eligible, beneficiary countries should ensure that US national security and foreign policy interests are not undermined.

The above stated conditionality can hardly be met by most African countries. For instance, Nigeria is not a market-based economy as oil, education, health, and agriculture sectors amongst others are still enjoying subsidy. Overtime, most government officials (appointed and elected) have demonstrated contempt for the rule of law. Due process is not followed most times before withdrawing funds from either the federation account or excess crude accounts by the executive arm of government. Political parties lack internal party democracy which is a disease to sustainable democracy as seen in the recently concluded ward congresses of the All Progressive Congress in a few states. Transparency and accountability are not common features of government institutions while child labour still exists in Nigeria. These are teething problems that Nigeria needs to address before earning respect from other countries in the international community.

Trump takes AGOA’s eligibility requirements seriously. He has suspended the deal with Rwanda after finding that the country “unfairly” blocked US exports of used clothing while keeping that of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania as they promised to reduce or eliminate import barriers. Nigeria’s domestic challenges are numerous but they can be overcome. Perhaps, this is the time for Nigeria to reconsider its stance on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) if it plans to export locally manufactured goods and agricultural products. Regional integration is critical to accelerating growth on the African Continent. The best way Nigeria can prove to the USA and the rest of the world that it can be a reliable global player is to show capacity to establish good governance, prevent corruption and promote human rights at home.