But there’s already a lot of trade between the groups that don’t like each other. After the 1st coup, Ibo traders remained in the north until the pogroms started. The aftermath of the coup rendered the north hostile towards them but trade continued until the vampires and hoodlums had their way. Trade is evident in our day to day lives as Nigerians. Northerners selling meat and security in the south (sadly there’s no established Northern company providing security services even though most houses in the south are manned by northerners. Well except you consider the police and army due to the tribal dominance… I digress)

Southerners selling everything from electronics to food, textiles and entertainment in the north. Trade is evident. That there’s a gulf in infrastructure that would have aided this national trade is another conversation.

The issue for me is building a democracy on a military foundation. It can’t and won’t work. How effective can trade be when the Govt, Lawmakers and courts always seek to force market prices? If it’s not Dstv being harassed, it’s the electricity tariffs being reduced. CBN gaming the market and setting FX rates by fiat. The country is not trade friendly. It’s difficult to register a business, it’s difficult to obtain funding, it’s difficult to power the business, not to mention the overheads in form of bribes and frivolous taxes. In a post-oil Nigeria, if trade is the bond that will keep us together, Govt constraints as is, will ensure the country doesn’t survive. A market is a place where buyers and sellers exchange goods and services for money. The role of Govt is outside the market, regulating it and not interfering in it.