Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected president in 2027, arguing that prolonged restrictions have hurt transborder trade, businesses and employment.

Atiku made the promise while addressing supporters in a video circulating online and shared by ADC chieftain Dele Momodu on Friday.

He said the closure of Nigeria’s borders with neighbouring countries had disrupted legitimate cross-border commerce, particularly for young Nigerians who depended on trading activities between Nigeria and countries such as Cameroon, Chad, Niger Republic and Benin Republic.

“The Northern states are bordering Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin Republic. And you close all those borders,” Atiku said, arguing that transborder trade should be recognised as a legitimate economic activity.

According to him, many young entrepreneurs who previously operated businesses with capital running into millions of naira were forced out of business following the restrictions.

He said some of the affected traders had employed two or three other people, meaning that the collapse of their businesses also resulted in additional job losses.

“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.

Atiku consequently promised to reopen the borders if elected.

“So I said I am going to reopen the borders and I will,” he declared.

Atiku targets southern ports

The former vice president also promised to promote the development of ports in southern Nigeria as part of efforts to improve the movement of goods across the country.

He said he had previously engaged European shippers and ship-development companies on how to develop ports in the South and South-East, with the aim of creating a more balanced system for the importation and distribution of goods.

“During the last campaign, I went across to Europe to discuss with shippers and ship development companies how we can together develop South and South-Eastern ports so that there is balance as far as importation of goods and transportation of goods are concerned,” he said.

Atiku argued that stronger ports in the South would reduce the cost and time involved in transporting goods to northern parts of the country, particularly the North-East.

Using the movement of containers to Yola, Adamawa State, as an example, he said goods could reach the North-East much faster if ports such as Calabar, Uyo or Port Harcourt were adequately developed and connected to efficient road networks.

He said, “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.”

Background to border closures

Nigeria’s land borders were largely closed in August 2019 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Federal Government at the time said the policy was intended to curb smuggling of rice, poultry products, petroleum products and other commodities, while also preventing the movement of weapons and drugs and encouraging domestic agricultural production.

In December 2020, Buhari ordered the reopening of four border posts: Seme in Lagos State, Illela in Sokoto State, Maigatari in Jigawa State and Mfun in Cross River State.

Under President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government 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 illicit activities.

Although several strategic border points have subsequently been reopened, some land borders remain subject to restrictions and tighter controls.

Atiku’s latest pledge therefore places border policy, regional trade and the development of southern ports among the economic and infrastructure issues likely to feature prominently in the 2027 presidential campaign.