1.1 Background to the Study

The ideal behind regional economic integration is to promote

economic socio-cultural and political development. In the case

of the West Africa sub-region is not only to promote economic

ties with the Economic Community of West Africa States

(ECOWAS) but also to promote the unity of Africa.

The economic integration of the West African sub-region is

crucial in several ways. Firstly it facilitates socio-cultural

economic and political development within the sub-region;

secondly it allow for free movement of goods and services

capital and labour within the West Africa sub-region. Finally it

creates larger market capable of stimulating economic growth

and development through the invisible hand/laws of demand

and supply in the words of Adam smith (1776)

The integration in the West Africa sub-region has largely been

informed by the integration process in the Western Europe

Latin America Asia and elsewhere in Africa. The main

objectives of integration in those areas have generally been

both economic and political. It has been economic where the

ultimate concern is the political unity of the component status.

The emergence of a federal or con-federal system is to cater

better for the political and economic interest of the member

states is a highly competitive global system. The inevitability of

political unity has been understood by the fact that economic

integration has been a political process. It requires the

surrender of the major national economic instrument to the

supranational authority also it involves the government of the

member state or the major actors as far as the limitation and

implementation of sub-regional policies is concerned.

The integration objective in the Economic Community of West

African states (ECOWAS) are essentially the same with

European Economic Community although the political aspect

has not been worthy proclaimed in the case of the European

Economic Community (EEC). The historical experience of the

West African region has exposed the fundamental weakness of

a definite security that is strictly limited to the military aspect.

The need has been realized to expand the conception of

security to accommodate all dimensions including the political

economic foreign and military policies so that security can be

treated in a total sense because the effective integration of

West Africa economic has been largely inhibited and stalled as a

result of problem stemming from other dimension of security.

The dynamic role of ECOWAS which is to promote regional

trade strengthen solidarity between member-state vis-á-vis the

rest of the worlds harmonize sectional policies exchange

realization of project promote peace and stability and has also

metamorphosed into a wide spread of economic integration in

Africa continent to break the barrier by making good use of

gains like the EEC NAFTA and ASFEAN have done or are doing

in Europe north America and east-Asia respectively. Also in the

spirit of brotherhood the community has initiated a

peace-keeping group to curb potential conflicts serious social

upheavals domestic and territorial conflicts serious social

upheavals domestic discord and territorial disputes inter-state

tensions and political discord.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The study is an attempt to find out the role of ECOWAS in

regional integration. Alliances are formed when nation who

share certain common norms believe they cannot achieve

common objective deter threats interest in the new world

order. Africa has an exception organization like African unity

and economic community of West African states.

The fundamental questions that arise as a result of this

collectivism are:

i. To what extent has the changing roles of ECOWAS

facilitated meaningful regional economic integration and

also influencing security in African sub-region?

ii. In a world characterized by inequality in terms of

resources military capability technological growth etc.

What is the parameter to be used in effectively bringing

economic regional integration and regional security in the

international system?

These are some of the issues that we intend to look into in

the source of work.

1.3 The Aims and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the research is to examine the roles ECOWAS has

played and how far their objectives have been achieved their

set back and their evolutionary decisions in the turn of the

millennium.

i. An appraisal of the present state status and structure of

ECOWAS

ii. An overview of the effort aimed at improving regional

integration and regional security within the West African

sub-region.

iii. Identification of recent and new developments in the roles of

ECOWAS.

1.4 Assumptions of the Study

This research study is significant in several ways. First it will be

of immense help to policy-makers administrators politicians

and the general public.

Secondly it will be a plus to the literatures on the related

subject matters of ECOWAS region integration and security

issues.

Thirdly it will provide valuable data for further research on the

related topic.

For the purpose of the research study the following basic

research propositions are put forward to serve as guide in our

analysis.

i. To what extent has ECOWAS facilitated meaningful regional

economic integrated and security in the African sub-region?

ii. What is the parameter to be used in enhancing regional

economic integration and security?

iii. What are the challenges facing ECOWAS in its efforts

toward regional economic integration and security

1.5 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The study covers the period of 1999-2011. It focuses on the

role of ECOWAS towards a regional economic integration and

regional security in the West African region as well as its

challenges.

While our limitation is basically lack of material resources

which has relegated us to the use of secondary source of data

collections and time constraint..

1.6 Methodology

The methodology used in this research is secondary data

collection which is going to include content analysis and library

research of relevant data to the project work. Papers presented

by scholars journals magazines newspapers article and books

pertinent to regional economic integration and regional security

with all that have due effort on ECOWAS as a whole.

1.7 Definition of Concepts

Peace

Peace according to Wortley (1954) is essentially a state of

order in society in harmony with man’s reasonable nature.

Security

Security implies the activities a country building or person

against attack or danger. In a broader sense security entails

having access to basic necessity of life such a food clothing

and shelter at affordable price as well as access to cheap

medical care quality education and general protection of live

and properties from perceived or real threats or dangers.

Integration

Integration is the act or process of combining or coming

together of two or more countries pulling their resources

together so as to promote socio-cultural economic and political

advantage.

ECOWAS

ECOWAS means Economic Community Of West African State

Conflicts

Conflicts are an expression struggle between at least two

parties who are interdependent and perceive incompatible

goals scarce resources and interference from other (Afoke

2008:2).