CONFLICT, MIGRATION, AND BORDER INSECURITY IN WEST AFRICA: A NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVES

Shehu Hashimu & Aliyu Balarabe — (Page 107-128)

Abstract

Conflict, forced migration, and border insecurity are deeply interconnected challenges that continue to undermine regional security and development in West Africa, with Nigeria at the epicentre. This study examines the nexus among these variables using a qualitative research approach, supported by thematic content analysis of secondary sources, including academic literature, government documents, and reports from institutions such as ECOWAS, UNHCR, AU, and IOM.

The analysis is anchored in the Security – Development Nexus and Conflict Theory, which provide conceptual grounding to explore how porous borders facilitate transnational crimes — such as arms trafficking, irregular migration, and insurgent mobility — while ongoing violence fuels displacement and weakens state capacity. Case studies of Boko Haram insurgency, farmer-herder conflicts, and ethno-religious crises highlight the reciprocal relationship between border insecurity and conflict-induced migration. The paper also critiques the limitations of existing regional mechanisms, including the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol and AU frameworks, noting weak enforcement and institutional fragmentation.

The study concludes with evidence-based policy recommendations, advocating for a coordinated, multi-stakeholder model to enhance border governance, strengthen regional security cooperation, and address the root causes of conflict and forced migration.

By doing so, the paper contributes a holistic framework for understanding and addressing migration regulation in West Africa.

Keywords: Border, Conflict, Insecurity, Migration, Nigeria