IMPLICATIONS OF AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (AfCFTA) ON NIGERIAN NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES

Abstract

The adoption of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement by African Union Member States signals a new era of harnessing migration for development across the continent. The Protocol reflects the commitment of African Union Member States to promote economic, social and cultural development, and the long pursued integration of African economies through migration. This noble venture by African leaders is quite commendable but not without challenges and shortcomings. Consequently, this study investigated the implication of the Agreement on Nigerian National Security Challenges. Secondary sources of data collection such as Textbooks, Journals, Periodicals, Newspapers and Government publications were utilized in the study. The concept of National Security was adopted as the paradigm of the study. National security connotes the safekeeping of the nation as a whole; the protection of its people from attack and other external dangers by maintaining armed forces and guarding state secrets. The study recommended that Nigeria should be cautious in areas of ratification of the Agreement especially on the aspect of the protocol on free movement to avoid compounding her already threatening National Security challenges.