Borders not closed, Tunji-Ojo faults Atiku’s plan to reopen land borders

Nigeria's Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directly challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's proposal to reopen the nation's land borders if elected president in 2027. Tunji-Ojo asserted that the premise of Abubakar's plan is flawed, as Nigeria's borders are currently not closed and thus cannot be reopened.

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As the Minister of Interior who supervises the Nigeria Immigration Service, an agency of government in charge of border and migration management, it is expedient to state that Nigerian borders are not closed and so cannot be reopened.

Tunji-Ojo, who supervises the Nigeria Immigration Service, emphasized that the administration has consistently managed controlled movement and trade across the country's borders. He provided a timeline of border reopenings, noting that four major land borders were reopened in December 2020, followed by others in 2022 and 2026. This indicates a deliberate, phased approach to border management rather than a blanket closure.

The minister also addressed specific concerns regarding the Cameroon border, particularly at Banki and Amchidé. He clarified that prolonged closures in this region since 2014 were driven by security imperatives related to the Boko Haram insurgency, not the 2019 trade policy as suggested. These crossings were reopened in 2019, with further reopenings in 2021 following joint stabilization efforts with neighboring countries.

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The prolonged closures on the Cameroon border, at Banki and Amchidé, did not arise from the 2019 trade policy at all. They date to 2014, when Boko Haram forced their closure for security reasons.

Tunji-Ojo acknowledged that some northern crossings remain under tighter control due to persistent security challenges, including banditry and residual insurgent activity. He stressed that these restrictions are a deliberate security judgment, not an indication of neglect. He cautioned that reopening these borders without improvements in the security situation could expose traders and local communities to significant risks, highlighting the delicate balance between trade facilitation and national security.

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Not every northern crossing is fully unrestricted today. Where banditry or residual insurgent activity persists, tighter control is a deliberate security judgement, not neglect.