Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s promise to reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected president in 2027, insisting that the country’s borders are already operational.
Tunji-Ojo made the clarification in a statement issued on Saturday in response to comments by Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who recently promised to reopen the borders to revive cross-border trade.
Atiku had argued that restrictions on land borders had negatively affected legitimate businesses, particularly in northern communities where many people depend on trans-border commerce. He also pledged to improve the country’s ports as part of his economic strategy.
However, Tunji-Ojo, who oversees the Nigeria Immigration Service, said the former vice president’s proposal was based on an inaccurate description of the current border situation.
“As the Minister of Interior who supervises the Nigeria Immigration Service, being 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,” he said.
The minister listed several crossings that have been reopened in phases. He said Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfum were reopened in December 2020, while Idiroko and Ikom followed in April 2022. Kamba and Tsamiya border crossings in Kebbi State were also reopened in February 2026.
Tunji-Ojo acknowledged that tighter controls remain at some locations because of security concerns, including banditry and insurgency.
He argued that effective border management requires a balance between security, documentation, customs compliance and trade facilitation rather than unrestricted movement.
The disagreement is significant as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election. Border security and cross-border trade are expected to remain important issues, particularly for communities and businesses that depend on regional commerce.
Atiku’s proposal and Tunji-Ojo’s response highlight competing approaches to managing Nigeria’s borders, with the debate likely to continue as the election approaches.
