Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has vowed to reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected, arguing that restrictions on cross-border trade have disrupted businesses and contributed to unemployment among young Nigerians.
Atiku made the pledge while addressing supporters in a video circulating online and shared by ADC chieftain Dele Momodu on Friday.
The former vice president said Nigeria’s northern states share borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger Republic and Benin Republic, making cross-border commerce an important source of livelihood for traders and businesses operating across the region.
Atiku Says Border Restrictions Hurt Young Traders
According to Atiku, restrictions on Nigeria’s land borders have affected young Nigerians who previously engaged in legitimate transborder trade with neighbouring countries.
He argued that many of those traders operated businesses with significant capital and employed other people before the restrictions disrupted their activities.
“The Northern states is bordering Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin Republic.
“And you close all those borders. All our young men who are doing trading between these countries, they carry goods across, they do this and that, all what we call transborder trade is a legitimate business,” Atiku said.
He said some young men and women who previously operated businesses with capital of between N10 million and N20 million had been forced out of business, leaving them unemployed.
“All the upcoming young men and women who used to have a capital of 10 million, 20 million, and they were employing two, three other people, and then all of them went bankrupt and unemployed. How can there be security?” he asked.
“So I said I am going to reopen the borders and I will,” he added.
Atiku’s Border Pledge Comes Ahead of 2027
Atiku’s proposal comes as political parties and presidential aspirants intensify preparations for the 2027 general election, with economic hardship, employment, security and the cost of living expected to remain major campaign issues.
The Bureau Journal’s 2027 elections guide identifies economic performance and security among the major issues expected to influence voters as Nigeria approaches the next presidential election.
Atiku, who is emerging as one of the leading figures in the opposition political space, has increasingly linked his political message to economic opportunity, jobs, trade and the cost of doing business.
The Bureau Journal has also reported on the political realignment involving politicians associated with Atiku’s previous political network, reflecting the wider repositioning of political actors ahead of 2027.
Atiku Links Border Trade to Security
For Atiku, the economic consequences of border restrictions also have implications for national security.
He questioned how communities can achieve meaningful security when young people who previously depended on legitimate commercial activities lose their livelihoods.
His argument is that restoring legitimate economic activity in border communities could provide young people with opportunities while reducing some of the economic pressures associated with unemployment.
However, reopening land borders would also require effective customs, immigration and security controls, particularly given the concerns that prompted the Federal Government to restrict the movement of certain goods and tighten border operations.
Atiku Wants Southern Ports Developed
Beyond reopening land borders, Atiku said he had also explored ways to improve the movement of imported goods through ports in the southern part of the country.
He said he had travelled to Europe during the last campaign to discuss with shippers and ship development companies how southern and south-eastern ports could be developed to create greater balance in the country’s import and transportation networks.
According to him, better port infrastructure would reduce the time and cost involved in moving goods from the southern ports to northern parts of Nigeria.
Atiku cited the movement of containers from Lagos to Yola, Adamawa State, where he said he has a factory.
“So when, if I drop my container in Calabar or in Uyo or in Port Harcourt, it will just take me 24 hours to take the container to Yola.
“But right now, it takes me not less than two months to take my container from Lagos because you have to cross over from South-West, you go to North-East, and then there is even no road,” he said.
Atiku said his position was aligned with concerns over the movement of goods across Nigeria and the need to develop southern ports to improve transportation options.
Why Nigeria Closed Its Land Borders
Nigeria’s land borders were closed in August 2019 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Federal Government said the policy was intended to tackle large-scale smuggling of rice, poultry products, petroleum products and other goods, as well as the movement of weapons and drugs. The government also argued that the policy would encourage domestic agricultural production.
In December 2020, Buhari ordered the reopening of four borders, including Seme Border in Lagos State, Illela Border in Sokoto State, Maigatari Border in Jigawa State and Mfun Border in Cross River State.
The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu later reopened the Tsamiya land border with Benin Republic in Kebbi State and the Kamba corridor linking Nigeria with Niger Republic in February 2026.
The Nigeria Customs Service said the reopening would be accompanied by measures aimed at preventing smuggling and other illegal activities.
Trade and Infrastructure Remain Major Economic Issues
The debate over Nigeria’s borders is part of a much larger question about the country’s ability to move goods efficiently and participate more effectively in regional and international commerce.
Global trade has continued to expand, with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development reporting that global goods trade reached about $13.7 trillion in the first half of 2026.
The Bureau Journal’s report on the latest global trade figures highlights the growing importance of regional supply chains, manufacturing, logistics and value addition.
For Nigeria, efficient roads, ports, rail connections, customs procedures and border infrastructure are critical to reducing the cost and time involved in moving goods.
Atiku’s argument is therefore not limited to reopening borders. It also encompasses the creation of a more efficient national transportation and trade network.
Southern Ports Could Reduce Pressure on Lagos
Atiku’s proposal to develop ports in the South and South-East is aimed at creating alternative routes for businesses importing goods into Nigeria.
Ports in Calabar, Port Harcourt and other parts of the southern region could potentially provide shorter routes for goods destined for some parts of the country if supported by adequate road, rail and logistics infrastructure.
Improving Nigeria’s trade infrastructure could also help businesses reduce logistics costs and make domestic commerce more competitive.
Recent efforts to strengthen international economic cooperation also show the importance of trade infrastructure. The Bureau Journal reported on the US Embassy’s Freedom 250 initiative to expand Nigeria-US agricultural trade, investment and technical cooperation.
The Challenge of Balancing Trade With Border Security
Reopening more land borders would not automatically resolve Nigeria’s trade problems.
The country would still have to address the security and economic concerns that led to the original restrictions. Effective customs monitoring would be required to distinguish legitimate trade from smuggling, while security agencies would need to maintain surveillance against the movement of weapons, drugs and other prohibited items.
Any new border policy would therefore need to balance economic freedom with national security.
The same applies to the development of southern ports. New port infrastructure would have limited impact if poor roads, congestion, inefficient customs procedures and weak logistics networks continued to delay the movement of goods.
Atiku’s Proposal Adds to 2027 Economic Debate
Atiku’s border pledge adds another economic policy proposal to the increasingly competitive political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Economic policy is likely to be one of the strongest determinants of voter sentiment, particularly as Nigerians continue to assess the impact of reforms introduced since 2023.
The political environment is already becoming more active, with parties and candidates positioning themselves ahead of the election. The Bureau Journal’s coverage of the growing scrutiny surrounding presidential candidates ahead of 2027 illustrates the intensity of the political contest and the increased public attention being placed on candidates.
For Atiku and the ADC, the challenge will be to turn policy promises into a detailed economic programme that explains how the proposed border reopening would work, how national security would be protected and how legitimate traders would benefit.
What Atiku’s Border Policy Could Mean
If implemented effectively, reopening more land borders could expand opportunities for legitimate traders operating between Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
It could also increase commercial activity in border communities, improve access to regional markets and create opportunities for small businesses that depend on cross-border commerce.
But the policy would also have to address the concerns that prompted the original border restrictions. A reopening without adequate monitoring could expose Nigeria to renewed smuggling and other illegal cross-border activities.
The proposed development of southern ports would face similar implementation challenges. Alternative ports would need dependable road and rail connections, efficient customs operations and sufficient cargo-handling capacity before they could substantially reduce pressure on Lagos.
What Happens If Atiku Is Elected?
Atiku has now made his position clear: he intends to reopen Nigeria’s borders.
But implementing such a policy would require more than a presidential directive. It would require coordination between the Federal Government, Nigeria Customs Service, immigration authorities, security agencies, state governments and businesses operating along Nigeria’s international trade corridors.
The government would also need clear rules defining which goods can move freely, which remain restricted and how legitimate traders can comply with customs requirements.
For businesses, the success of the policy would ultimately be measured by whether it lowers the cost and time of moving goods while maintaining predictable and transparent border procedures.
Border Policy Likely to Feature in 2027 Campaigns
As Nigeria moves towards the 2027 presidential election, questions about trade, employment, infrastructure and economic opportunity are likely to feature prominently in campaign debates.
Atiku’s proposal provides voters with a specific policy position on one of those questions.
His argument is that Nigeria can improve economic opportunity by allowing legitimate cross-border commerce to flourish while investing in ports and transportation infrastructure that connect different parts of the country more efficiently.
Whether that approach can deliver the promised benefits without reviving the smuggling and security problems associated with Nigeria’s previous border regime will depend largely on the details of implementation.
For now, Atiku has pledged that an ADC-led government would reopen the borders and pursue stronger trade connections through improved infrastructure.
The proposal is likely to remain part of the wider economic debate as Nigeria’s political parties and presidential candidates prepare for the 2027 election.
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