THE IMPACT OF ECOWAS PROTOCOL ON FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS, GOODS AND CAPITAL IN WEST AFRICA: A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIA-BENIN REPUBLIC BORDER RELATIONS, 1999 - 2012

📄 Project Abstract

The treaty establishing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was signed in Lagos on 28 May 1975. Article 27 of the Treaty affirms a long-term objective to establish a community citizenship that could be acquired automatically by all Member States' nationals. A key objective of the preamble to the treaty is to remove obstacles to the free movement of goods, capital and people in the sub-region. The Phase one of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and the Right of Residence and Establishment of May 1979 guaranteeing free entry of Community citizens without visa for ninety days was ratified by Member States in 1980 and put into effect forthwith. Over thirty years after the take off of the Protocol, scholars are united in their submission that the Protocol has failed to fulfill the vision of a borderless sub-region. They point to the 'ongoing harassment, extortion, inordinate delays and corruption by uniformed personnel at the border areas', especially of the Nigeria...