By Abah Adah
Distinguished Professor of Regional Economic Integration in Africa,, Professor Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan, has decried that gaps in compliance with regional economic Integration treaty obligations and rising instability constitute threat to West Africa’s regional bloc ambitions.
The erudite Professor of Law who led the presentation on addressing the challenges of compliance with regional economic integration treaty obligations in Africa at the 56th National Association of Law Teachers (NALT) Conference today at the Faculty of Law of the University of Abuja, stressed that ECOWAS legal and agenda framework addresses challenges to economic and social development by establishing protocols for free move, promoting good governance, and implementing policies to harmonize financial systems and reduce trade barriers.
“However, its effectiveness is undermined by weak enforcement, persistent national interest that override regional commitments, economic disparities and security threats”, Professor Ladan regretted.
On the Free Movement Protocol, Professor Ladan explained that, “The 1979 ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Residence, and Establishment aims to remove obstacles to the movement of goods, capital, and labor to achieve a more efficient allocation of resources across member states.”
He added that, “In practice, the protocol faces significant barriers, including harassment at borders, excessive checkpoints, and arbitrary charges by national officials. Weak implementation has also been linked to security issues, including the proliferation of arms.”
Regarding Monetary Cooperation, he said, “The West African Monetary Agency (WAMA) works toward creating a single monetary zone by harmonizing fiscal and monetary policies, promoting the use of national currencies for regional trade, and facilitating currency convertibility.”
Professor Ladan highlighted a major stumbling block saying, “Efforts toward a common currency have stalled due to persistent economic and political issues, such as member states’ reluctance to cede sovereignty and a lack of policy coordination.”
On Governance and Political Stability, he stated, “The ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance aims to promote peace, security, and human rights through democratic institutions, the rule of law, and free and fair elections. It provides a legal basis for interventions and sanctions in response to unconstitutional changes of power.”
However, he criticized, “Member states often prioritize national interests over collective decisions, weakening enforcement. The ECOWAS Parliament also lacks actual legislative power, limiting its effectiveness in advancing integration.”
Professor Ladan praised the ECOWAS Court of Justice, saying, “The ECOWAS Court of Justice serves as a crucial institution for promoting the rule of law by hearing cases on human rights violations from individuals and corporate bodies.”
A challenge persists: “The court’s effectiveness is hampered by member states’ low compliance and reluctance to enforce its judgments. Efforts are underway to strengthen the enforcement mechanism through collaboration with national authorities.”
Citing Statistical Data (2020–2025), he noted, “Intra-ECOWAS trade remains significantly low, often below 15%, compared to other regions like the European Union. The dominance of raw material exports and reliance on trade with external partners in Europe, Asia, and America exacerbate instability.”
On recent trends, Professor Ladan highlighted, “Nigeria’s exports to other ECOWAS countries saw significant growth. The ECOWAS share of Nigeria’s intra-African exports almost doubled between the first half of 2019 and the first half of 2025, reaching 62.1%.”
Challenges endure: “Throughout the 2020–2025 period, intra-regional trade remained low, often cited as below 20% of total trade, far below the European Union’s 60%. A 2025 study noted that ‘intra-regional trade in West Africa has remained very low’.”
On Security and Political Setbacks, he observed, “The period 2020–2025 saw a rise in political and social instability, coups, and terrorism, particularly in the Sahel region. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in 2024, citing the bloc’s perceived deviation from its founding principles—a major setback for the integration agenda.”
Professor Ladan however warned that, “The divergence between regional commitments and national priorities, coupled with security crises and withdrawals, indicates a weakening of national commitment to the regional integration agenda, negatively impacting social cohesion and trust.”