The Snare and Delusion of ECOWAS Economic Integration: The Demystification of Nigeria’s Border Closure

Movement of goods, services and persons between Nigeria and its neighbours has been a great source of concern for the Nigerian economy; with installed social, political and security implications. The permeability of the Nigerian borders has contributed to the influx of all sorts of smuggled goods and persons that is injurious to the Nigerian economy and security. This paper explores the tricky traps in the ECOWAS economic integration and unravels the mystification of Nigeria's border closure. It further explores all the consequences of and impacts on such moves by the Nigerian state to curb terrorism, insurgency, trafficking, smuggling etc. which have become increasingly intractable and unbearable for the Nigerian state to handle or resolve.