Tunji-Ojo Counters Atiku: Nigeria’s Land Borders Already Open, Cannot Be Reopened
Abuja, August 29, 2026 — Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has firmly rejected claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the country’s land borders remain closed and would need reopening under a future administration.
In a detailed statement issued Saturday through the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Tunji-Ojo, who oversees the Nigeria Immigration Service, declared that “Nigerian borders are not closed and so cannot be reopened.”
The response followed Atiku’s recent campaign remarks in which the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential hopeful promised to reopen all northern land borders if elected in 2027, arguing that prolonged restrictions had bankrupted young trans-border traders and worsened insecurity.
Atiku’s Pledge and the Government’s Rebuttal
Atiku had told supporters that northern states bordering Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic had suffered after border closures disrupted legitimate cross-border commerce.
He linked the loss of livelihoods among young traders — many of whom once operated with capital of one million naira or more and employed others — to rising unemployment and insecurity, vowing: “I am going to reopen all the borders.”
Tunji-Ojo pushed back with a factual timeline of reopenings. On 16 December 2020, the previous administration reopened the Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfum border posts.
Idiroko and Ikom followed for goods and services on 20 April 2022. Under the current administration, Kamba and Tsamiya in Kebbi State were reopened in February 2026, restoring links with Niger Republic and Benin Republic respectively.
The minister specifically addressed Atiku’s mention of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin.
He noted that prolonged closures at Banki and Amchidé on the Cameroon border stemmed from Boko Haram threats dating back to 2014, not the 2019 trade policy.
Those posts reopened in 2019, with Fotokol and Gambaru following in 2021 after joint military and stabilisation efforts by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
“Folding this separate, security-driven history into one continuous 2019 shutdown misrepresents two distinct issues—trade regulation and counter-insurgency—as a single failure,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
Security Realities Versus Blanket Openness
While acknowledging that not every northern crossing operates without restriction, the minister framed tighter controls where banditry or residual insurgent activity persists as deliberate security judgments rather than neglect.
Premature full reopening, he argued, would expose traders and border communities to greater risk.
Modern border management, he emphasised, is not a binary choice between total closure and unrestricted movement.
It requires the simultaneous application of security measures, proper documentation, customs compliance and controlled trade facilitation.
“Political competition should not become a competition to rewrite recent history,” Tunji-Ojo concluded. “If he has a new border proposal, he should set it out and explain how it differs from the current approach, rather than treating separate trade, security and infrastructure issues as one and the same.”
Broader Context of the Debate
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions over Nigeria’s border policy, which has evolved since the 2019 closures aimed at curbing smuggling.
Successive governments have gradually restored access at key posts while maintaining security protocols.
The Presidency had earlier described Atiku’s characterization of the borders as closed as inaccurate, pointing to the same reopenings.
For communities dependent on cross-border trade and for policymakers balancing commerce with national security, the debate underscores a familiar challenge: how to facilitate legitimate economic activity without compromising safety in a complex regional environment.
As the 2027 election cycle intensifies, clear distinctions between past policy decisions, current operational realities and future proposals will remain essential for informed public discussion.
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