Presidency knocks Atiku over border reopening claim, says Nigeria's land borders are already open

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Presidency has criticised former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his recent pledge to reopen Nigeria’s borders if elected president in 2027.

The Presidency dismissed Atiku’s claim that Nigeria’s borders were closed, describing the statement as misleading and insisting that the country’s land borders remain open.

It said the Federal Government reopened most of Nigeria’s land borders on March 14, 2024, and has not reversed the decision.

The position was contained in a statement titled, “Atiku and the Borders: Nigerians Deserve Facts, Not Campaign Slogans,” issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Mr Sunday Dare.

Dare was reacting to Atiku’s recent declaration that he would “open the borders” immediately upon assuming office.

“The facts are straightforward: Nigeria’s land borders are already open. It is therefore difficult to understand which borders the former Vice President intends to ‘open’.”

The presidential aide said that if Atiku’s proposal was to relax existing border controls, Nigerians deserved to know which restrictions he intended to remove and why.

He challenged the former Vice President to explain the safeguards his proposed administration would put in place against terrorism, arms trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking and other transnational crimes.

Dare noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had also opened the Kamba border in Kebbi State on February 14, 2026, with what he described as attendant economic and diplomatic benefits.

“The distinction between an open border and an uncontrolled border is fundamental to responsible national security and economic policy,” he said.

According to Dare, modern border management is designed to facilitate legitimate movement, trade and economic interaction while preventing criminals and terrorist organisations from exploiting the same channels.

“Effective border governance requires immigration control, customs administration, intelligence-sharing, surveillance, technology and coordinated security operations,” he said.

The presidential aide said Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly across the northern region, could not be separated from developments across the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.

He noted that Nigeria shares international borders with Niger, Chad and Cameroon, making regional cooperation essential in addressing terrorism, violent extremism and other transnational crimes.

“As Atiku rightly acknowledged, Nigeria shares borders with Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The region continues to confront terrorism, violent extremism and transnational organised crime.”

Dare said porous borders could be exploited by criminal networks to move people, weapons and other illicit materials across countries.

Citing the Global Terrorism Index 2026, he said about 41 per cent of terrorist attacks occurred within 50 kilometres of international borders, while approximately 64 per cent occurred within 100 kilometres of such borders.

“The security reality is compelling. Borderlands are particularly vulnerable where difficult terrain, limited state presence and weak coordination create opportunities for terrorist organisations.”

Dare said the Federal Government’s focus on security along Nigeria’s Northeast and Northwest corridors should not be interpreted as evidence that the country’s borders were closed.

He described the deployment of the Armed Forces and other security agencies along the corridors as part of responsible border management.

“Effective border management is an indispensable component of national security as domestic insurgencies evolve into increasingly networked and transnational terrorist threats,” he said.

The presidential aide said political contestation remained legitimate in a democracy but maintained that statements on national security and economic policy should be based on facts.

“Statements about national security and the Nigerian economy should be grounded in facts, institutional understanding and a credible alternative policy agenda,” he said.

Dare challenged presidential aspirants to present detailed policies on border surveillance, intelligence-sharing, customs and immigration operations, technology and regional security cooperation.

“What Nigerians deserve is not a slogan about ‘opening borders,’ but a detailed explanation of how border surveillance and security would be improved.”

He said such policies should also address the protection of border communities while facilitating legitimate commerce and the movement of people.

Dare added that the Tinubu administration remained open to scrutiny and should be assessed based on measurable outcomes in security, economic recovery, border management and the welfare of Nigerians.

“Nigeria’s borders must be open to legitimate commerce and movement, but secure against terrorists and criminals,” Dare said.

He added that the country’s borders must be effectively monitored with technology, guided by intelligence and integrated into Nigeria’s broader national security and economic strategy.

“That is the policy conversation Nigerians deserve,” he emphasised.

(NAN)