2025/10/03 by Aisedion, Rufus, Tor Tsuwa, John
#Borderless Borders #Development #Migration #Organized crime #Transnational
paper · doi:10.82265/fatc-sk18
The need to sustain economic integration in West Africa resulted in the removal of all impediments to free movement of persons, capital and services with no consideration of the security implications of borderless borders. The dismantling of internal borders brought to the fore new threats and development challenges such as terrorism, kidnapping, drug trafficking, trade and proliferation of small arms and light weapons, among others. The objectives of the study were to establish the connection between migration, transnational organized crime and borderless borders, and to ascertain the impact of migration and transnational organized crime across borderless borders on development in West Africa. The paper utilized qualitative method, and further employed secondary data, sourced from textbooks, journals, Newspapers, the internet, among others. The findings of the paper shows that there are links between migration, transnational organized crime, borderless borders affecting development negatively. This finding is supported by unhindered and pervasive migration of people with illicit transactions including subversive activities aided by borderless borders in West Africa sub-region. Thus, causing monumental insecurity, threats to lives and property, which cropped up to undermine development efforts among member states. The paper recommended among others that institutions among member states should be revamped and strengthened to check dubious migrants with ill-concealed activities and illegal transactions across borders.