IMPACT AND SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF ECOWAS TRADE LIBERALISATION SCHEME ON CROSS-BORDER TRADE IN SEME AND IDIROKO BORDERS, NIGERIA

Abstract

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) has created security challenges resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property in Nigeria. Studies on ETLS examined its advantages and implementation challenges but its security implications on cross-border trade among member states have not been adequately addressed. The study, therefore, examined the impacts of ETLS, security implications and efficiency of border security agencies in managing the threats and challenges of border security at Seme and Idiroko borders, Nigeria. Weaver’s Securitisation and Haas’ Regional Integration theories were used as the framework, while the case study design was adopted. Primary and secondary data were utilised. Key informant interviews were conducted with 30 purposively selected leaders of relevant institutions and individuals: 4 officials of the Nigeria Custom Service (2 each from Seme and Idiroko); 4 officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (2 each from Seme and Idiroko); 2 officials of Department of State Security (1 each from Seme and Idiroko); 2 officials of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (1 each from Seme and Idiroko); 2 officials of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (1 each from Seme and Idiroko); 2 officials of Port Health Services (1 each from Seme and Idiroko); 4 community leaders (2 each from Seme and Idiroko); Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Lagos (1); Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja (3); Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja (2); ECOWAS Commission, Abuja (2); National Association of Nigerian Traders, Abuja (1) and one Border Patrol Unit. Secondary data were sourced from books and journal articles. Data were content-analysed. The ETLS boosted job creation, protected indigenous manufacturers and products, eased cross border movement for locally manufactured products; reduced prices for locally manufactured goods, promoted Nigerian-made goods and facilitated global competitiveness of the products. However, it led to challenges such as proliferation of small arms and light weapons, human trafficking, undocumented and irregular migration and facilitated emergence of cross-border criminal gangs. Security personnel at Seme and Idiroko borders were not efficient in curtailing security challenges because of limited advanced technologies, inadequate training, low automation and non-existence of bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Benin Republic on modalities for implementation of ETLS at the two border posts. The security threats posed by ETLS are more prevalent at Seme border than at Idiroko. Challenges faced by border security agents included: collaboration between border criminals and some residents of border communities, corruption and compromise by some security personnel and non-existence of bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Benin Republic on ETLS implementation. The Trade Liberalisation Scheme of ECOWAS though impacted positively on Nigeria’s cross-border trade, but also posed some security challenges at Seme and Idiroko borders. ECOWAS should review the Scheme with a view to synchronising it with contemporary cross-border security challenges among its member countries. The Nigerian government should improve on technologies in border security and facilitate bilateral agreement with Benin Republic on ETLS implementation at the two border posts.