Presidency Questions Atiku's Border Reopening Proposal

Nigeria's presidency has directly challenged a proposal by African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to reopen the nation's land borders, should he win the 2027 election. The presidency's stance, articulated by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, asserts that Abubakar's proposal is based on a false premise.

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The facts are straightforward: Nigeria’s land borders are already open. The Federal Government announced the reopening of most of the country’s land borders on 14 March 2024, and it has not reversed that position.

Dare stated that the government cannot comprehend which specific land borders Abubakar intends to reopen, emphasizing that Nigeria's land borders with neighboring countries are already operational. He pointed out that the Tinubu administration had directed the reopening of most of the country's land borders on March 14, 2024, a decision that has not been reversed. Dare cited the opening of the Kamba border in Kebbi State on February 14, 2026, as an example of the administration's efforts to foster economic and diplomatic gains through open borders.

Premium Times reported that Abubakar had pledged to reopen any remaining closed land borders and to implement policies easing the importation and movement of goods. The former vice president argued that the closure of land borders had led to business shutdowns and exacerbated insecurity. He also mentioned plans to develop seaports in the southern part of the country to create a more balanced import and transportation system, addressing concerns that Nigeria's busiest ports are concentrated in Lagos.

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It is therefore difficult to understand which borders the former Vice President intends to ‘open’ when the borders are already open.

The presidency has called on Abubakar to clarify his proposal, specifically asking if he intends to relax existing border controls. Dare questioned which controls Abubakar would remove, why he deems it necessary, and what safeguards his administration would implement to prevent terrorism, arms trafficking, smuggling, and other transnational organized crimes.

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On February 14, 2026, President Tinubu opened the Kamba border in Kebbi State, with attendant economic and diplomatic gains.