ASSESSMENT OF NIGER’S WITHDRAWAL FROM ECOWAS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY
Abstract
This study examines the economic, political, and security implications of Niger’s withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the Nigerian economy. Established in 1975, ECOWAS has promoted regional economic integration and political cooperation, but recent political instability and military coups led to the suspension of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, culminating in Niger’s formal withdrawal by January 2025 and the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Using a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative interviews with ECOWAS officials and Nigerian policymakers and secondary data from reports and academic literature, the study explores how Niger’s exit affects trade flows, regional monetary initiatives such as the Common External Tariff (CET) and the proposed ECO currency, and Nigeria’s geopolitical influence within West Africa. The findings reveal that Niger’s withdrawal risks reintroducing trade barriers, disrupting cross-border commerce, weakening security cooperation, and diminishing Nigeria’s leadership in regional economic and political affairs. The study underscores the urgent need for Nigeria to adopt strategic bilateral agreements and advocate for reforms within ECOWAS to mitigate these adverse effects. By highlighting these dynamics, the research contributes to understanding the broader challenges facing regional integration in West Africa and offers policy recommendations to sustain economic stability and security in the region.
Keywords: ECOWAS, Niger withdrawal, Nigerian economy, regional integration, trade disruption, security cooperation, Alliance of Sahel States (AES), ECO currency
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