BASIS FOR ECOWAS PROTOCOL ON FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODS AND PERSONS AND ITS IMPACT ON NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The study examines ECOWAS Protocol of Free Movement of Goods and Persons and Nigeria’s economic development (2010-2023). Liberal Inter-govermentalism theory of regional integration was adopted. The method of data collection was premised on both primary and secondary methods of data collections. Questionnaire and Personal Interview were employed as instruments for primary data, while for secondary method, sources like research papers, policy papers, documents, journals, magazines, seminars, workshop papers and handbook were utilized. The study revealed that the introduction of the ECOWAS protocol has promoted trade within the West African sub-region. However, the challenges of the Protocol have not helped the Nigeria’s economic development. Even though ECOWAS prides itself as the first region in Africa with the free movement initiative, the Protocol is poorly implemented constituting more security concern than boosting regional trade and economic development. The security forces have rather turned the job to their own business, encouraging the crossing of smugglers of all sorts of commodities from one country to another with just a tip of tokens. There is high number of roadblocks, illegal barriers and the problem of insecurity on the roads. Thus, the privileges of the protocol have been abused. The Protocol rather than serve the purpose of integration is rather contributing to the insecurity prevalent in the sub-region and resultantly affected the economic development of Nigeria. Though there have been previous joint initiatives aimed at facilitating the implementation of the Protocol on Free Movement including the ECOWAS Common Approach on Migration, the ECOWAS Cross Border Cooperation Fund, as well the establishment of monitoring units at selected border posts, the Government of Nigeria should work more in collaboration with neighboring member states to find joint solutions aimed at tackling the ineffective border management systems, smuggling, and illegal migration rather than adopting protectionist policies that do not augur well for regional integration in the long run.