ECOWAS PROTOCOL ON FREE MOVEMENT AND NIGERIA BORDER SECURITY

This study focused on ECOWAS protocol on free movement and Nigeria border security. The study was carried out to determine the extent ECOWAS protocol on free movement of individuals and goods across borders has posed challenge to not only Nigeria but all the states in the region. The work used descriptive research design and only secondary data were sourced and used. The data collected were discussed qualitatively. The work discovered that there is significant impact of ECOWAS protocol on free movement on national security and public order concerns in Nigeria; and ECOWAS protocol on free movement affects security and investment in Nigeria. This is true because there has been cross-border insurgency/terrorism especially in the North East of Nigeria as exemplified by the nefarious activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group and other splinter sects such as Ansaru, and ISWAP. For that, the Protocol is lacking full implementation by member states till today because of the perceived problems it poses to their national security. The study recommends that there is need to revisit of ECOWAS protocol on free movement to correct the framework that has led to porous borders in the region. The study concludes that; the ECOWAS protocol on the free movement of persons and goods has contributed immensely to the worsening security situation in Nigeria.