Atiku’s Promise Misleading, Borders Not Closed — Tunji-Ojo

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has faulted 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 open.

Tunji-Ojo, in a statement issued on Saturday, said Atiku’s position was based on an inaccurate portrayal of Nigeria’s recent border policy and security measures.

The minister, who supervises the Nigeria Immigration Service, said it was therefore impossible to “reopen” borders that were not closed in the first place.

He recalled that the previous administration reopened major land borders, including Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfum, on December 16, 2020, following earlier restrictions.

Idiroko and Ikom were subsequently reopened to goods and services on April 20, 2022, while Kamba and Tsamiya in Kebbi State were reopened in February 2026 under the current administration.

Tunji-Ojo said the latest reopening connected Nigeria with Niger Republic and Benin Republic.

He also rejected Atiku’s reference to Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic as evidence of a prolonged closure, arguing that some of the border restrictions were imposed for security reasons rather than trade policy.

According to him, the closure of the Banki and Amchidé crossings along the Nigeria-Cameroon border began in 2014 following attacks by Boko Haram.

The crossings were reopened in 2019, while Fotokol and Gambaru followed in 2021 after joint military and stabilisation efforts involving Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

Tunji-Ojo said conflating the different episodes with the 2019 trade restrictions presented two separate issues—trade regulation and counter-insurgency—as though they were one continuous border closure.

He acknowledged that some northern border crossings remain subject to tighter controls because of continuing banditry and residual insurgent threats.

The minister said such restrictions were deliberate security decisions intended to protect traders and communities rather than evidence of government neglect.

“Not every northern crossing is fully unrestricted today,” he said, stressing that reopening a crossing ahead of prevailing security conditions could expose border communities and traders to greater risks.

Tunji-Ojo argued that modern border management could not be reduced to a choice between shutting borders completely and allowing unrestricted movement.

He said effective management required a combination of security, proper documentation, customs compliance and controlled facilitation of legitimate trade.

The minister urged political actors to focus on presenting workable alternatives rather than what he described as attempts to rewrite recent history for political advantage.

“Political competition should not become a competition to rewrite recent history,” he said.

He challenged Atiku to explain the specific changes his proposed border policy would introduce compared with the government’s existing approach.

“If he has a new border proposal, he should set it out and explain how it differs from the current approach,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The statement comes as political parties and presidential aspirants intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with border management and trade expected to remain important issues in the campaigns.