Home TIPS Understanding the ECOWAS Protocols on Free Movement.

Understanding the ECOWAS Protocols on Free Movement.

23

Understanding the ECOWAS Protocols on Free Movement. Daily Law Tips (Tip 795) by Onyekachi Umah, Esq., LL.M, ACIArb(UK)

 Introduction:   

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional economic community of the countries on the western part of Africa. ECOWAS is created to promote economic integration and cooperation among the countries on the west of Africa, since 1975.  The ECOWAS countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. In 2002, Mauritania, a founding member of the ECOWAS exited in 2002. 

This work is designed to expose the benefits of the ECOWAS protocols on free movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment to Nigerians and other citizens of the ECOWAS. On the Nigerian boarders and that of other ECOWAS countries, Nigerians and migrants are forced to pay for trips that are supposed to be free by law. Also, due to poor legal awareness, many Nigerians seek illegal routes to ECOWAS countries, countries that they really do not need visa to enter.  

The ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol: 

To promote and achieve economic integration and cooperation in West Africa, four years after the formation of the ECOWAS, on 29 May 1979 member states adopted a Protocol for the Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment within the region. The 1979 Protocol A/P.1/5/79 and its four (4) supplementary Protocols, make up the body of regional law on ECOWAS Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment. 

On 29 May 2019, the ECOWAS celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Protocol and its advancement of intra-regional mobility and economic development. In 9 days from today, the 1979 Protocol will be 42 years. The 1979 Protocol and its supplementary Protocols will be considered in brief. 

  1. 1979 Protocol A/P.1/5/79 relating to Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment: 

The 1979 Protocol initiated the right to community citizens of ECOWAS to enter, reside and establish economic activities in the territory of member states (it abolished visa). Under this, citizens where only required to enter any ECOWAS country with valid travel and health documents. However, a member state has right to refuse the admission of community citizens that are deemed inadmissible under the domestic laws of the member state. This protocol also made the conditions for expulsion of a community citizen.

  1. 1985 Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/7/85 on the Code of Conduct for the implementation of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, the Right of Residence and Establishment:

This Mandates member states to provide travel documents for their citizens. It creates additional requirement for the better treatment of persons being expelled. Also it creates protections for illegal immigrants and provides sub-regional co-operation for the purpose of preventing or reducing the flow of illegal immigrants. 

  1. 1986 Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/7/86 on the Second Phase (Right of Residence): 

This protocol further mandates member states to grant right of residence to community citizens to seek and maintain income yielding employments. It Condemns mass expulsion of community citizens; however, it allows individual expulsion on certain conditions; like national security, public order, public health and breach of essential residence conditions.  

  1. 1989 Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/6/89 amending and complementing the provisions of Article 7 of the Protocol on Free Movement, Right of Residence and Establishment: 

This amended Article 7 of the 1979 Protocol, to now allow member states to amicably resolve disputes by direct agreement, where dispute is arising from the Protocol on free Movement. However, where there is a failure to resolve dispute amicably, it mandates a fact-finding mission of 3-member states to investigate the complaint and send report with a view of finding solutions. 

  1. 1990 Supplementary Protocol A/SP.2/5/90 on the Implementation of the Third Phase (Right to Establishment): 

This defines the right of establishment, allowing community citizens and their businesses to be established in territories of the member states, without discrimination from such member states. It prohibits nationalization and confiscation of property of community citizens and then guarantees compensation. The exception to this, is where there are issues of public health, security or public order. 

Conclusion: 

The ECOWAS free movement is to allow free entry, residence and establishment of citizens of the ECOWAS in any ECOWAS country. By it, all citizens of the countries in the ECOWAS are free to move and visit any of the ECOWAS Countries, without VISA. All that the citizens need, are travel documents and health clearance documents (a passport/travel card and a Yellow Fever Certificate) to stay freely for 90 days without visa in any of the ECOWAS Countries. Once again, the ECOWAS countries are; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. 

It is the duty of the government of Nigeria and every other ECOWAS Country, to provide travel documents (passports) for the citizens, to enable their citizens travel, explore, get employed, set up businesses and be established in any of the ECOWAS countries. Nigeria and other ECOWAS member states, have a duty to promote free legal awareness to ensure citizens are aware of their rights and

duties. This will reduce the unnecessary use of illegal boarders and routes by Nigerians in accessing other ECOWAS countries, that they are ordinarily free to access without Visa. Free legal awareness will reduce the extortions of Nigerians and immigrants on borders by some staff of government agencies, even when such travellers are not to pay a kobo to access any ECOWAS Country. 

My authorities, are:

  1. Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 33 to 45, 318 and 319 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
  2. Articles 1, 2, 12, 15, 57, 76, 77, Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) Revised Treaty, 1993.
  3. 1979 Protocol A/P.1/5/79 relating to Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment
  4. 985 Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/7/85 on the Code of Conduct for the implementation of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, the Right of Residence and Establishment
  5. 1986 Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/7/86 on the Second Phase (Right of Residence)
  6. 1989 Supplementary Protocol A/SP.1/6/89 amending and complementing the provisions of Article 7 of the Protocol on Free Movement, Right of Residence and Establishment
  7. 1990 Supplementary Protocol A/SP.2/5/90 on the Implementation of the Third Phase (Right to Establishment)
  8. Onyekachi Umah, “An Alternative to Courts for Human Rights Cases” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 14 May 2021) <https://learnnigerianlaws.com/an-alternative-to-courts-for-human-rights-cases/> accessed 19 May 2021. 
  9. Onyekachi Umah, “How and When Nigeria Can Exit the AFCFTA” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 16 March 2021) <https://learnnigerianlaws.com/how-and-when-nigeria-can-exit-the-afcfta/> accessed 19 May 2021.
  10. Onyekachi Umah, “ECOWAS Court as a Weak Alternative to Nigerian Courts” (LearnNigerianLaws.com, 20 May 2021) <https://learnnigerianlaws.com/ecowas-court-as-a-weak-alternative-to-nigerian-courts/> accessed 19 May 2021. 

Sabi Law Projects:

#SabiLaw

#DailyLawTips

#SabiBusinessLaw

#SabiElectionLaws

#SabiHumanRights

#SabiLawOnTheBeatFm

#SabiLawLectureSeries

#CriminalJusticeMonday

#SabiLawVideoChallenge

Speak with the writer, ask questions or make inquiries on this topic or any other via onyekachi.umah@gmail.com, info@LearnNigerianLaws.com or +2348037665878 (whatsapp). To receive free Daily Law Tips, join our free WhatsApp group via https://chat.whatsapp.com/L7h4f1exItZ38FeuhXG4WN or Telegram group, via the below link: https://t.me/LearnNigerianLaws

To keep up to date on all free legal awareness projects of Sabi Law Foundation, follow us via

Facebook Page:@LearnNigerianLaws,

Instagram:@LearnNigerianLaws,

Twitter: @LearnNigeriaLaw,  

YouTube: Learn Nigerian Laws

WhatsApp Groups via (https://chat.whatsapp.com/L7h4f1exItZ38FeuhXG4WN),

Telegram Group: (https://t.me/LearnNigerianLaws),

Facebook group: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/129824937650907/?ref=share)

or visit our website: (www.LearnNigerianLaws.com)

Please share this publication for free till it gets to those that need it most. Save a Nigerian today! NOTE: Sharing, modifying or publishing this publication without giving credit to the author or Sabi Law Foundation is a criminal breach of copyright and will be prosecuted. This publication is the writer’s view not a legal advice and does not create any form of relationship. You may reach the writer for more information.

This publication is powered by www.LearnNigerianLaws.com {A Free Law Awareness Program of Sabi Law Foundation, supported by the law firm of Bezaleel Chambers International (BCI).} Sabi Law Foundation is a Not-For-Profit and Non-Governmental Legal Awareness Organization based in Nigeria. For sponsorship and partnership, contact: sponsorship@learnnigerianlaws.com, sabilaw.ng@gmail.com or +234 903 913 1200.

23 COMMENTS

  1. Hello are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new to
    the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my own. Do you need any html coding knowledge
    to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Feel free to surf to my site – Florian

  2. Wonderful blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.

    Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
    I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
    Appreciate it

    My homepage … Leonida

  3. Howdy! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established
    blog. Is it very hard to set up your own blog? I’m
    not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.
    I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not sure
    where to start. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Cheers

    Also visit my web site – Danial

  4. I have been surfing online more than 3 hours today,
    yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me.
    In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the
    net will be much more useful than ever before.

    My web page; info when (tinyurl.com)

  5. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of
    the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways,
    I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!

    my web site off info [tinyurl.com]

  6. Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let
    you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading properly.

    I’m not sure why but I think its a linking
    issue. I’ve tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the
    same outcome.

    Also visit my web blog – cheap airline ticket

  7. Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you
    happen to be a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and will eventually come back from now on. I want to encourage yourself to continue your great posts,
    have a nice weekend!

    Feel free to surf to my web-site flight search

  8. I have been browsing online more than 2 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like
    yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all web owners
    and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.

    My website; cheapflight

  9. Very good blog! Do you have any hints for aspiring writers?

    I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
    Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a
    paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m totally overwhelmed ..
    Any tips? Kudos!

    Also visit my web page air tickets

  10. Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up.

    The text in your post seem to be running off the screen in Opera.

    I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to
    let you know. The style and design look great though!
    Hope you get the issue resolved soon. Many thanks

    my web-site cheap airline tickets

  11. It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it
    is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I
    want to suggest you some interesting things or tips.
    Maybe you can write next articles referring to this
    article. I wish to read even more things about it!

    my blog post – gamefly

  12. You’re so awesome! I do not think I have read a single thing
    like this before. So great to find another person with genuine thoughts on this subject matter.

    Really.. many thanks for starting this up. This website is one thing that is needed on the web, someone with a little originality!

    My web-site; of info – tinyurl.com

  13. I’m gone to inform my little brother, that he should also pay a info (tinyurl.com) visit this webpage
    on regular basis to obtain updated from most up-to-date reports.

  14. With havin so much content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright violation? My blog has a
    lot of unique content I’ve either authored myself or outsourced
    but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over
    the web without my authorization. Do you know any methods to
    help protect against content from being stolen?
    I’d genuinely appreciate it.

    Here is my blog … info when (tinyurl.com)

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Exit mobile version