The ECOWAS protocol on the free movement of persons and the challenge of insecure or open borders

Clicks: 1
ID: 309387
2025
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal

Ranked #81 of 145 articles by views in Aminu Kano Academic Scholars Association Multidisciplinary Journal

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale. Only the 120 most-read articles are drawn; the journal has 145 in total.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
Prior to colonial partitioning, Africans interacted freely across territories, unhindered by differences in language, culture, or ethnicity. However, the creation of artificial borders during colonial rule disrupted this natural integration. Since the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 28 May 1975, member countries have pursued various strategies to promote regional cooperation, particularly in economic and social domains. The adoption of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Residence, and Establishment in 1979 was a significant step toward fostering integration in an increasingly globalized world. The Protocol grants ECOWAS citizens the right to move freely, reside for up to 90 days without a visa, and engage in economic activities across member states. Using a qualitative research approach and secondary data sources, this paper, guided by the Human Needs Theory, critically examines the implications of the Protocol for border security and national sovereignty, with particular reference to Nigeria, which shares 4,047 km of borders with four neighboring countries. The paper argues that while the free movement policy strengthens regional unity and trade, it also exposes member states to transnational crime, terrorism, and illegal migration due to porous borders. It maintains that achieving a balance between integration and security is essential for sustainable development. Consequently, it recommends that Nigeria and other ECOWAS states establish a coordinated regional border force and adopt stronger policy measures to secure their borders while preserving the ideals of free movement and cooperation.
Reference Key
imported_1762720358_6910fa668097a Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Sunday Simon Abu
Journal Aminu Kano Academic Scholars Association Multidisciplinary Journal
Year 2025
DOI
DOI not found
URL
https://akasa.com.ng/ojs/index.php/journal/article/view/198-221
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.