EXPLORING CROSSBORDER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE SOCIO ECONOMIC PROGRESS OF ECOWAS MEMBERS STATES WITH A FOCUS OF NIGERIA PERSPECTIVES

The study explores how cross-border crimes impact Nigeria's economic growth trade, and security dynamics, while also examining the socio-political factors that facilitate the prevalence of these crimes. Furthermore, the study discusses the efforts made by ECOWAS and the Nigerian government to combat cross-border criminal activities, highlighting the challenges faced in implementation and suggesting strategies for improved regional cooperation and poliev enforcement to enhance socio-economic stability. The social disorganization theory was adopted to guild the research assumption. The research utilizes quantitative data to assess the implications of cross-border crimes, a descriptive survey design was used to select some of the respondents view on the study. A total of 102 respondents were sampled using structured questionnaires. Frequency distribution table and simple percentage was used to analyse the demographic information of the respondents, and the research question was answered using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The result indicated that, cross-border criminal activities are well known among the citizens of Nigeria and the active presence of horder control gives the citizens sense of security and trust in Nigeria's law enforcement. It also shows that cross-border criminal activities affect the economic growth of Nigeria. However, findings shove that cross-border activities are caused by unemployment, low level of education, and poor economy Cross-border criminal activities has reduced foreign investment and has also affected Nigeria's trade investment according to findings, it was recommended that security agency which include the border control should be well equipped to perform its function well, also policies should be put in place to withdraw security men attached to politicians Finally, security agencies who are no longer productive as well as those who are corrupi should be retrenched and more skilled youths be injected into the system,