MIGRATION WITHIN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATESAND ITS IMPACT ON NIGERIA NATIONAL SECURITY, 2015-2025.

Abstract

This paper examined migration within Economic Community of West African States and its impact on Nigeria National Security 2012-2025. The motivation for this study is as a result of frequent attacks, devastating effects and destruction of lives and property, Kidnapping for ransom, Banditry, insurgency and terrorist acts across Nigeria on daily basis in North East, North West, North Central, South East, South West and South-South geo-political zones of Nigeria that have resulted in thousands of deaths, massive destruction of property, violent conflicts between famers and herders, Internally Displaced Persons, kidnapping of school children, teachers and travellers along most Nigeria high ways, demanding of ransoms by the bandits and kidnappers for the release of the kidnapped victims, closure of schools, suicide bombings in mosques and churches, psychological trauma on Nigeria citizens and treat to the Nigerian national security  . The problem of this study stern form the fact the governments of various ECOWAS member states have put in anti-illegal migration laws, deportation of undocumented illegal aliens and ECOWAS Protocols on free movement of people so as to mitigate illegal migrations within West Africa but the problem of national security still remains especially within Nigeria The main objective of this study is to examine migration within ECOWAS and its impact on Nigeria national security. This study adopts a secondary qualitative methodology, utilizing existing literature and content analysis to examine the evolving trends and impact of migration within ECOWAS on Nigeria national security. The findings revealed that while some security initiatives have shown promise, they often fail short of due to inadequate resources, poor intelligence, and systematic corruption within the Law Enforcement and Security Agencies. Consequently, the paper recommends that a robust strengthening of national security and a good national economic development reforms in line with international standard that will mitigate the weaknesses in Nigeria’s security apparatus.