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.
