Security Challenges and the Implementation of Ecowas Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and Goods between Nigeria and Niger Republic

Abstract

After many years of signing the Treaty I, establishing the ECOWAS as a regional body, the overall  objective of promoting cooperation and integration remains consistently elusive. Article 27 of the  ECOWAS Treaty affirms a long-term objective of establishing a Community citizenship that could  be acquired automatically by all nationals of the member states. This reinforces the preamble to the  treaty that outlined the key objective of removing obstacles to the free movement of goods, capital  and people in the sub-region. This paper specifically identified the nature or manifestations of the  security challenges in the implementation of ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons and  goods; it also examined the implications of the security challenges on the free movement of persons  and goods along Nigeria and Niger Republic borders. Data for the paper were gathered from both  primary and secondary sources. Interview was conducted with some border personnel and crossers  along Ilella-Konni and Katsina-Jibiya borders. The article on ECOWAS protocol for free movement  of persons and goods and documents from Niger-Nigeria Joint Commission of Cooperation as well  as related articles were used as secondary source. The data were analysed thematically using  content analysis. The paper revealed that banditry, insurgency (Boko Haram/ISWAP), trafficking,  armed robbery and other related crimes affected the implementation of the protocol on free  movement of goods along Nigeria and Niger Republic borders of Katsina-Jibiya and Ilella-Konni.  These security challenges cause delay and harassment of crossers amidst rigorous screening  exercise and in some instance, there were extortions of travellers/crossers by some border  personnel. The study recommends among others the need for bilateral and multilateral security  efforts, at the sub-regional and regional level to confront the security challenges affecting the  regional integration.