Public Debt Stock and Debt Servicing: Public debt stock has steadily increased overtime; reaching over N12, 000 billion naira by 2015Q4. With the persistent fall in crude oil price and the attendant d

African countries have been left out of the recent benefits accruing from international trade. For example, they accounted for only 3.2 percent of world trade in 2013 compared to 5 percent in the mid-1960s. Regional integration can reverse this weak performance as it holds the promise for countries to gain from the resultant economies of scale and enhanced competitiveness. It will also help to expand the markets for foreign direct investment.