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Cross Border Crimes And Socio-economic Development Of Ecowas Development Of Ecowas Members States: The Nigeria Experience
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1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Cross border crimes have slowed down
growth and development rates in which most West African nations should
attain globalization and free trade zones have numerous advantages to an
economy-either capitalist or mixed. These benefits are enjoyed when due
processes and legal activities between countries are carried out.
However, in areas with some restrictions in trade, high unemployment
rates, high poverty rates as often witnessed in most developing nations,
the reverse is the case. Revenue realizable from most products smuggled
in and out of the nation is enough to build schools, good roads and
other social amenities in Nigeria.
Cross border criminal activities
in West Africa straddle weak borders into specific geographical location
in affected countries where state capacity to respond to the threat and
challenges posed by these illegal activities is equally weak. The
smuggling of goods, especially cocoa, timber, ivory and petroleum
products across national borders is most prevalent along Ivory Coast,
Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Burkina Faso corridors of the
sub-region.Cross border crimes are increasingly becoming sophisticated
by each passing day with devastating consequences on the economies of
countries, particularly Third World countries. The tendency is that,
these crimes affect monies available to government to provide basic
amenities for the poor. These basic amenities may include medical or
health facilities, education, housing, income and the provision of other
infrastructural facilities like road electricity, water and others.
Ordinary
business men, women and sometimes rebels and criminal gangs are
involved in the smuggling of these and other products. These goods are
smuggled in vehicles or on foot, using secret and illegal routes across
the borders to evade special regulations, levies or taxes, thereby
making more income through the cross border action of these products.
For
instance Nigeria, Senegal and Ivory Coast were named and shamed for
allegedly fuelling the illegal Ivory Trade. Having largely wiped out
their own elephant population, the three countries were believed to be
importing and selling tonnes of ivory which had been poached in nearby
countries.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the
study is to examine cross border crimes and socio-economic development
of ECOWAS member states. Specific objectives of the study are:
To identify various cross border crimes perpetuated in ECOWAS member states.
To
examine the challenges posed by cross border crimes and how these
challenges affect the socio-economic growth of Nigeria in particular and
other ECOWAS member states.
To appraise the effectiveness of various machineries put in ground by the government to curb cross border crimes.
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