Nigeria's Borders Are Open, Interior Minister Rebuts Atiku's 2027 Reopening Claim
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's proposal to reopen Nigeria's land borders if elected president in 2027, stating the borders are already open. He noted that several major crossings have been reopened under both previous and current administrations, countering Atiku's claim that the borders remain shut.
Tunji-Ojo cited specific reopenings: Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfum on 16 December 2020; Idiroko and Ikom to goods and services on 20 April 2022; Kamba and Tsamiya in Kebbi State in February 2026, linking Nigeria to the Niger Republic and Benin Republic respectively. He also mentioned that the Banki and Amchidé crossings with Cameroon, closed due to Boko Haram-related security concerns dating back to 2014, were reopened in 2019, with Fotokol and Gambaru following in 2021 after joint military and stabilisation efforts.
The minister acknowledged that some northern crossings remain under tighter controls, but stressed these are deliberate security measures, not evidence of a closed border. He clarified that Nigeria's initial land-border closure in August 2019 under President Buhari aimed to curb smuggling of rice, arms and drugs, and that subsequent reopenings did not remove all import restrictions. He also referenced the August 2023 closure of Nigeria's land and air borders with Niger as part of sanctions after the coup, which were lifted in February 2024 following ECOWAS' decision.
Tunji-Ojo urged Atiku to explain how his proposed border policy differs from the current approach, warning against conflating trade regulation with counter-insurgency measures. He emphasized that modern border management requires security, documentation, customs compliance and controlled trade facilitation working together.
This clarification matters for traders, transporters and border communities who rely on cross‑border commerce, and informs voters assessing political claims ahead of the 2027 elections. Given these measures, how should businesses and communities plan for cross‑border trade and security considerations?