Improvement of food, nutritional security and poverty reduction in Africa can be addressed through better integration of intra-regional fish trade into the national policy agenda. Data crucial to the development of regional fish trade needs to be obtained. However, there is paucity of information on market structure, products and value of fish trade along regional borders in Africa. This study therefore investigated fish market structure, the market actor's characteristics, distribution channels, market profitability and efficiency along the Nigeria-Niger border and Lake Kainji inland fisheries. A multistage random sampling procedure was used in the selection of respondents for this study. Four states Sokoto, Katsinajigawa and Yobe along the Nigeria-Niger border and Niger State were selected. Data was collected from 150 respondents in each of the states comprising 50 producers, 50 processors and 50 marketers each, totalling 750. Data on socio-economic characteristics, marketing channel, market structure, profitability and trade flow were obtained. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary indices, Gini coefficient, stochastic production frontier model and ANOVA at dO.OS.There was a predominance of male producers, marketers and processors in Katsina (100.0%, 98.0%, 98.0%), while in Niger state, processing was dominated by women (54.0%). Majority (50%) of the respondents were 35 years of age on average. The minimum and maximum average volume (kg) offish traded within and across thestates were for fried (882.251339.15,730.72±283.39) and fresh fish (1702.23±978.32; 1673.20±439.88).An average volume (kg) of I386.46±760.57 of dried fish was traded across the regional border. Processors had the highest average gross margin per kg(□ 1157.94±492.26) while wholesalers had the least D387.94±363.87 for smoked fish. The Gini coefficient value for most of the actors showed partial inequality in the revenue distribution of fresh, smoked, dried, fried, spiced and frozen fish, except for wholesalers of smoked fish (0.34), retailers of spiced fish (0.45); wholesalers (0.41) and retailers (0.43) of frozen fish. Direct marketing channels were most efficient for fresh and processed fish. Market structures for most of the producers (capture), marketers and processors were monopolistic in nature and there was barrier into entry for fried and dried fish.The study recommends a review of governance systems, market structures, policies and institutions along the trade route leading to an effective organization of the markets.
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