Atiku pledges to reopen northern borders to save bankrupt traders

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has pledged to reopen all borders across Nigeria’s northern states if elected in 2027, speaking in a video to supporters on Friday, August 27, 2026, according to DAILY POST. He argued that the closure of borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic has left young traders who engage in legitimate trans‑border business bankrupt and unemployed, many of whom had over ₦1 million in capital and employed two to three others.

The former vice president said the resulting job losses have fueled a sharp rise in insecurity across the north, arguing that restoring cross‑border trade is essential to revive livelihoods and reduce the security crisis. He promised that, upon taking office, he would immediately reopen the borders to allow traders to resume their activities and rebuild their businesses.

With the 2027 election approaching, voters in the north must weigh whether reopening borders will genuinely restore trade and jobs or whether underlying issues such as smuggling, corruption and inadequate infrastructure will limit the impact. Will Atiku’s border‑reopening pledge translate into real economic relief for traders, or will other challenges blunt its effect?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/28/2027-young-traders-have-gone-bankrupt-ill-reopen-all-borders-atiku/