Economic Integration in Africa: African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and Border Security in Nigeria Paul Akere Irabor

Abstract

Nigeria faces security challenges due to its porous border, which allows illegal materials, arms, and weapons to be smuggled into the country. However, border security in Nigeria could become complicated with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), a free trade deal among African nations. This study aims to analyse the policy framework of AfCFTA and examine its implications for Nigeria’s border security. Structural function theory was used as the theoretical framework for situating the study. The findings, based on secondary sources, indicate that the AfCFTA aims to enhance intra-African trade by providing Nigeria and its member states with a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade agreement that encompasses trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property, and competition policy. Despite these positive goals, the results also reveal that economic progress may be unrealistic given the Nigerian border's porousness, which has contributed to the growth of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), irregular migrant flows, drug trafficking, etc. For Nigeria to benefit from the AfCFTA, the study suggests that the country's porous border should be tightly secured to prevent the exacerbation of border problems.