Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has pledged to reopen Nigeria’s land borders and develop ports in the southern part of the country if elected president in 2027.
Mr Atiku made the pledge while addressing supporters in a video circulating online and shared by ADC chieftain Dele Momodu on Friday. He argued that restrictions on Nigeria’s land borders had negatively affected legitimate transborder trade and contributed to unemployment among young Nigerians.
Mr Atiku said Nigeria’s borders with neighbouring countries such as Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic were important routes for legitimate cross-border businesses.
He argued that the closure and restrictions had forced many young Nigerians who previously operated businesses with significant capital out of employment.
“The Northern states is bordering Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin Republic. And you close all those borders. All our young men who are doing trading between these countries… all what we call transborder trade is a legitimate business,” he said.
According to him, some young entrepreneurs had businesses with capital running into millions of naira and employed other people before the border restrictions affected their operations.
“All the upcoming young men and women who used to have a capital of 10 million, 20 million, and they were employing two, three other people, and then all of them went bankrupt and unemployed. How can there be security?” Mr Atiku asked.
He then declared, “So I said I am going to reopen the borders and I will.”
Former VP proposes southern port development
Mr Atiku also said his administration would pursue the development of ports in southern Nigeria to improve the movement of imported goods across the country.
He said he had previously engaged with shippers and ship development companies in Europe on ways to develop ports in the South and South-East.
“During the last campaign, I went across to Europe to discuss with shippers and ship development companies how we can together develop South and South-Eastern ports so that there is balance as far as importation of goods and transportation of goods are concerned,” he said.
Atiku links port development to lower transport costs
The ADC candidate argued that improving port infrastructure in southern Nigeria would shorten the distance and time required to transport goods to northern states.
Using the movement of containers to Yola, Adamawa State, where he said he owns a factory, as an example, Mr Atiku said goods currently transported from Lagos face significant delays because of poor road infrastructure and the long journey across the country.
“So when, if I drop my container in Calabar or in Uyo or in Port Harcourt, it will just take me 24 hours to take the container to Yola,” he said.
“But right now, it takes me not less than two months to take my container from Lagos because you have to cross over from South-West, you go to North-East, and then there is even no road,” he added.
The proposal could have implications for traders, manufacturers, importers and consumers, particularly if improved border access and port infrastructure reduce the cost and time involved in moving goods.
Mr Atiku’s argument is that legitimate cross-border trade can support employment, while better distribution infrastructure can reduce logistics costs and improve access to goods across different regions.
However, reopening borders would also require measures to address smuggling and other illegal activities. The Federal Government previously cited smuggling of rice, poultry products, petroleum products, weapons and drugs among the reasons for imposing restrictions on land borders.
Nigeria’s border policy since 2019
Nigeria’s land borders were closed in August 2019 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari as part of measures aimed at curbing smuggling and encouraging domestic production.
In December 2020, four borders, including Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfun, were ordered reopened.
The Tinubu administration subsequently reopened the Tsamiya land border with Benin Republic in Kebbi State and the Kamba corridor linking Nigeria with Niger Republic in February 2026.
The Nigeria Customs Service said the reopening would be accompanied by measures to prevent smuggling and other illegal activities, although some strategic border posts have remained restricted or under tight controls.
Atiku intensifies 2027 campaign message
The pledge comes as Mr Atiku, the ADC presidential candidate, intensifies his policy messaging ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He has recently outlined other proposed policy changes, including restoring a targeted petrol subsidy if elected, arguing that government intervention should help reduce the cost of living and restore purchasing power.
Mr Atiku has also said that the 2027 election will be his final presidential contest if he loses, urging Nigerians with Permanent Voter Cards to participate actively in the election.
The latest proposal places border trade, port development, logistics and regional economic integration among the issues likely to feature prominently in the 2027 presidential campaign.
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