ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS) FREE MOVEMENT REGIME AND TRANS-BORDER INSECURITY IN WEST AFRICA: EXPLAINING THE PARADOX OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION ALONG THE NIGERIA–BENIN BORDER

Abstract

The study examined the paradoxical relationship between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) free movement regime and trans-border insecurity along the Nigeria–Benin border between 2015 and 2023. Although the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment was designed to facilitate regional integration, economic interaction and social mobility, its implementation within a porous and weakly regulated border environment created opportunities that were exploited by smuggling networks. The study investigated how the free movement regime contributed to trans-border insecurity, how smuggling affected Nigeria–Benin diplomatic relations, and how weak enforcement by border security agencies sustained the movement of persons and goods through unofficial routes. The study adopted Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) as its theoretical framework, while Liberal Institutionalism was considered but not adopted as the principal explanatory framework. A qualitative research design based exclusively on secondary sources was employed, and documentary materials were subjected to qualitative content analysis. The study found that the problem arose less from the principle of free movement itself than from implementation gaps, porous borders, policy disparities, corruption and weak institutional coordination. It further found that persistent smuggling strained bilateral relations and that unilateral border measures produced only temporary effects. The study therefore recommended stronger ECOWAS coordination, harmonized border procedures, intelligence sharing, institutional reform and development-oriented border governance.