The Politics Of Nigeria’S Closure Of International Land Borders With Immediate Neighbours: An Appraisal
Eze Raphael C PhD
department Of Political Science; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Agena James E PhD
department Of Political Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Keywords: Border closure, Smuggling, Insecurity
Abstract
Notwithstanding the Economic Community of West African States protocol on Free Movement of Persons and Goods, the Muhammadu Buhari led administration in Nigeria on the 22nd of August, 2019 ordered the closure of international land borders with her immediate African neighbours. This paper is therefore designed to appraise the gains or otherwise derivable from such unilateral action of the government of Nigeria. Utilizing the concept of National Interest as a framework of analysis, the paper revealed that the closure of borders have led to substantial reduction in smuggling of rice and equally small arms and light weapons into the country, saw a reduction in insurgency attacks in the North East and also the increased demand on local rice by Nigeria, a development which had brought skyrocketed prices of the staple food. The paper is however of the opinion that the duration of the closure should be for a short period as indefinite closure can necessitate trade war with her neighbours thereby undermining the objectives of the ECOWAS protocols on Free Movement of Persons and Goods and the African Continental Free Trade Areas. The paper recommends strong policing of our land borders with incorruptible security officials to curb smuggling activities and close illegal routes which are the beehive of activities of these miscreants rather than unilateral border closure.