•Nigerians living in Ghana call on ECOWAS to save their businesses
One major feature of the international order today is a seeming disappearance of countries’ borders. Multilateral and bilateral instruments tend to promote globalism and keep interdependence that has altered the traditional meaning and relevance of the nation-state. One of the international organisations established to give effect to this development is the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that came into being in 1975 to promote economic integration in the sub-region. Gradually, trade barriers are being removed through protocols and instruments passed by ECOWAS to facilitate seamless trade among the peoples of West Africa.
Nigeria has borne the brunt of this development in about the same way that the more developed European countries are complaining about some negative effects of the European Union on them, with the sensational exit of Britain as a current reminder of this trend.
While Nigerians are very accommodating and see themselves as big brothers to other West African countries, irrespective of the harsh economic realities in the country, many of the other countries, being unprepared for the intense competition that the order tends to promote, have been erecting barriers that negate the very essence of the transition.
One state where this has manifested in recent years is Ghana. Despite the rich history of people-to-people interaction between the two nation-states, suspicion and fears of losing to the more enterprising Nigerians have led some misguided Ghanaians to protest possible takeover of their economy.
However, the recent turn that has seen the government enacting legislations to eclipse Nigerian businesses calls for concern. The latest economic policy introduced by the Ghanaian authorities reserving some business jurisdictions to Ghanaians is believed to be capable of making about 400 Nigerian businesses in the country close shop. Understandably, this has not gone down well with those adversely affected and they protested to ECOWAS, seeking prompt intervention.
We identify with these Nigerians who have observed Nigeria’s large-heartedness and yet are being exposed to hostility in neighbouring countries, in this case, Ghana. We join them in calling on ECOWAS to step into the situation before it degenerates to South Africa-like xenophobic attacks. No country should be allowed to live under the illusion that globalisation comes with no challenges. If Nigeria and Nigerians could accommodate the challenges, they, too, must be prepared to bear their portions. In case this plea by distraught Nigerians fails, the Nigerian government should tweak policy instruments that would protect the Nigerian citizens, too.
It is unfortunate that Nigerians do not see their government as sufficiently protective, and the silence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this matter is an illustration of failure of the state to protect the people, especially those eking a living abroad. Despite the mindless attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa, for example, appropriate measures are not being taken by the Federal Government.
This is a convenient point to review all ECOWAS and African Union protocols that have been harmful to our interests. The ECOWAS Protocol on movement has been identified as one reason for influx of murderous gangs of herders that have invaded Nigeria, displacing, killing and maiming farmers. Many communities in the North West and the central belt have been exposed to this dangerous trend. Yet, the Nigerian government has largely borne the development with uncanny equanimity.
