NiDCOM urges ECOWAS leaders to tackle border barriers hindering free movement
- Jan 9
- 2 min read
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has urged leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to intensify efforts to remove persistent barriers limiting free movement across the sub-region.
Speaking in Lagos on Friday, Dabiri-Erewa said that despite long-standing agreements on visa-free travel, citizens of ECOWAS countries continue to face delays, harassment and unofficial charges at border crossings. She described the situation as a contradiction of the bloc’s integration goals and called for sustained political attention to address the gaps between policy and practice.
She spoke while receiving Nigerian motorcyclist Judith Amadi, who recently completed a solo journey from Lagos to France and back. Dabiri-Erewa noted that Amadi’s experience mirrored complaints previously raised by other travellers and said such accounts should prompt renewed action by regional authorities.
According to her, the ECOWAS passport was introduced to enable seamless movement of people and goods, but enforcement remains inconsistent across member states. While acknowledging ongoing efforts by some governments, she stressed that border issues must remain a priority until tangible improvements are achieved.
Amadi, in her remarks, recounted facing prolonged delays, repeated documentation checks and unofficial fees at several West African borders during her two-and-a-half-month journey, which lasted from October 2025 to early January 2026. She contrasted the experience with her movement within Europe, where she said travel was smoother under the Schengen system.
She added that poor road infrastructure along some trans-African corridors further complicated the journey. Despite the challenges, Amadi said the trip met its purpose of drawing attention to the difficulties faced by African travellers and advancing advocacy for cancer patients.
The biker explained that her ride was aimed at raising awareness and funds for cancer treatment, noting that the high cost of chemotherapy places it beyond the reach of many Nigerians. She called for stronger public and private support to help patients complete life-saving treatments.
Her journey, she said, highlights both the promise of regional integration in West Africa and the urgent need to address the practical obstacles that continue to undermine it.
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