ECOWAS Free Movement: ‘Border Closure Reduces Insecurity’

The Head of Department (HOD), Political Science and Director, Center for American Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Jona Onuoha, has said that the closure of Nigeria’s borders was a temporary measure and has reduced insecurity in the country due to the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS’, free movement of persons, goods and services.
ECOWAS protocol of free movement of persons permits all member states, goods and services to move freely within the ECOWAS sub-region in order to enhance economic development.
“Since ECOWAS came into place, all roads lead to Nigeria, armed robbery, terrorism, banditry, all manner of criminality and instead of enhancing development, it affects the economic development of Nigeria”, he said.
Onuoha disclosed this in an interview with journalists at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, saying that there is need for Nigeria to review its economic policy towards ECOWAS, “President Muhammadu Buhari has to be commended for reviewing the economic policy of ECOWAS protocol of free movement of persons since it has led to increasing banditry, kidnap, movement of small arms and light weapons and made Nigeria insecure”.
He said that the economic sabotage that follows in terms of importation of goods and services, including rice which the country can produce, therefore, it’s good for the border to be closed for a while to rethink about the cost-benefit analysis of ECOWAS protocol of free movement of persons, goods, and services, explaining that the challenges associated with the closure are numerous as no country can survive without relationship with other countries in international relations.