Africa has tremendous potential at its disposal, if only it can marshal its riches… It follows that the only route to realizing that goal would be through integration. Integration promotes trade as it builds on confidence. This is in fact a key factor responsible for the successes of other regions. 

Those of us who have been travelling frequently would attest to the fact that as an African, one finds it easier moving within European countries, with the proper documents of course, than they can within Africa. This clearly frustrates our development efforts.

Even at the international level, no one nation can be a successful bargaining power without the support of one or two other nations. That goes to say that togetherness is the sure way of attaining progress. Of course, Africans are quite aware of this and we have never stopped talking about it. However, it still remains a mystery as to why we still cannot integrate. There are the barriers to integration entrenched in our national laws, and the attitude of our respective citizens, who take inspiration from what prevails at the state level. 

The recently launched ECOWAS Inter-state Road Transit Scheme (ISRT) is quite an appropriate move to stopping some of these obstacles. Road blocks, as members observed during the launching of that regime, have become points of maltreatment for our very own citizens. The system also condones corruption and theft. Therefore, if member states can honour their commitment, it will not only help to smoothen business prospects within the sub-region, but will also facilitate grassroot cooperation, which is a catalyst for ultimate unification.

As a cautionary measure, it will be prudent if implementation modalities of the protocols that bind member states of the ISRT take into account the possibility of abuse of these privileges. Even in well known federations, laws differ in different territories. In other words, there should not be any room for clandestine activities in the name of integration. Otherwise apart from it creating more discomfort, contrary to the ultimate idea behind the protocols, it will instigate displeasure and, eventually, xenophobia. That will be the last thing we would want to see.