ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES’ PROTOCOL ON FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS: A STUDY OF NIGERIA-BENIN REPUBLIC RELATIONS (1999-2023)

Abstract

Economic   Community of West African States’ protocol on free movement of persons is one of the instruments designed to achieve the goal of integration of the sub-region. Its efficacy has been questioned by various scholars, owing to inherent problem, on who ought to be called community citizens and the other one arising from conflicting domestic laws of member states. Consequently, some scholars opine that the protocol is a success in terms of implementation, thus, movement of people for example between Nigeria and Benin Republic has improved substantially after the promulgation of the protocol. While others disagree over that. Interrogating the divergent views, the following research questions were raised: has the ratification of the protocol on free movement of persons improved movement of people between Nigeria and Benin Republic? Has the implementation of the protocol on free movement of persons integrated Nigeria and Benin Republic? Anchoring the work on Neo-functional integration theory; a cross-sectional survey design was used, thus, method of data collection was primary with questionnaire designed in five point Likert scale format as instruments. Analyses were made using Mean, Simple percentage. Chi-square was for testing of hypotheses. Utilizing all these, the findings are that not without challenges, the protocol has improved movement of people between Nigeria and Benin Republic. It has also to a reasonable extent integrated the two countries. The study recommends more enlightenment of people concerning the protocol; strengthening of ECOWAS judicial system and checkmating of sharp practices at the borderline, as ways of enhancing the protocol.