ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES PROTOCOL ON FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS, GOODS AND ESTABLISHMENTS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF NIGERIA’S SECURITY

Abstract

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) major goal in enacting the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence, and Establishment in 1979 was to speed regional growth through economic integration. The treaty strives to remove all barriers to cross-border movement of its residents, since unrestricted mobility of people, products, and services is critical to achieving full economic unity. The research study used a secondary source to collect data, and data from the secondary sources were submitted to qualitative content analysis, with the main goal of examining the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Goods, and Establishments and the management of Nigeria's Security. This study revealed that Nigeria's drive to safeguard its national interests in the face of insecurity always outweighs its desire to fully cooperate in the implementation of regional agreements. The implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence, and Establishment, like any other regional agreement/treaty around the world, presents security challenges; however, how these challenges are met ultimately determines the nature of the results obtained from the ECOWAS integration agenda. Lastly, this study among other things recommended that rather than adopting protectionist policies that do not bode well for regional integration in the long run, the government of Nigeria should work more collaboratively with neighboring member states to find joint solutions aimed at addressing ineffective border management systems, smuggling, and illegal migration.