28/08/2026
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected president in 2027.
Speaking to supporters in a video shared by ADC chieftain Dele Momodu on Friday, Atiku said the closure of Nigeria’s borders with neighbouring countries had severely affected transborder trade and contributed to unemployment, particularly among young people.
He argued that many young Nigerians who previously operated businesses worth millions of naira and employed others were forced out of business after the borders were closed.
Atiku said, “I am going to reopen the borders and I will,” stressing that trade across Nigeria’s borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic is a legitimate economic activity that should be encouraged.
The ADC candidate also promised to develop ports in southern Nigeria to improve the movement of goods and create a better balance in the country’s import and transportation network.
He said he had previously held discussions in Europe with shipping and port development companies on ways to develop ports in the South and South-East.
According to Atiku, improved southern ports would significantly reduce the time and cost of transporting goods to northern states. He gave the example of moving a container from a southern port such as Calabar, Uyo or Port Harcourt to Yola, which he said could take about 24 hours, compared with the current situation where transporting a container from Lagos to Yola can take up to two months.
Nigeria closed its land borders in 2019 under former President Muhammadu Buhari to curb smuggling and encourage local production. Although several borders have since been reopened, some remain restricted or under tight controls.
Atiku's proposal comes as political parties and presidential aspirants begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.