Federal Govt Bows To AU On Free Movement Within ECOWAS Sub-region

As part of its efforts to foster cooperation and development among regional communities, the federal government has concluded plans to, despite security implications, reconsider the protocol on free movement of persons, goods and services within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

It announced its consideration through the minister of interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbosola, who played host to the African Union (AU) delegation on Tuesday and assured them of Nigeria’s readiness to partner with it in achieving trans- border movement of persons within the sub-region.

Aregbesola, who wondered why humans should confine themselves in one place, while smaller creatures move freely without hindrance, assured the delegation of working towards the realisation of the free movement protocol across the subregion.

The minister who identified insurgencies as major threat to the realisation of the free movement protocol, particularly stated that countries within the Sahel region made Nigeria reluctant in rectifying the protocol.

Aregbesola harped on how the ousting of a former Libyan leader brought about security breach to Nigeria, via proliferation of arms which led to full blown insurgencies.

He said in furtherance to realisation of free movement across the subregion, Nigerian government has introduced Visa on Arrival (VoA) policy to expedite movement.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Rita Amokhobu , said their visit was to  update the federal government on the outcome of their visit to Benin- Seme border, which she said accorded them opportunity to gather information on how Nigeria  complied with the treaty of African Union on free movement of persons and goods.

She applauded the Nigerian government for mounting facilities around its borders, which according to her, encourages movements across its entry points, however she pointed out that most of these gadgets were not functioning adequately due to erratic power supply at the border lines.