Presidency Tackles Atiku Over ‘Open Borders’ Promise, Says Nigeria’s Borders Already Open

 

By Abdulahi Musa 

The Presidency has challenged former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his pledge to “open the borders” if elected President in 2027, insisting that Nigeria’s land borders are already open.

The Presidency, in a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the Federal Government reopened most of the country’s land borders in March 2024 and had not reversed the decision.

It therefore questioned what Atiku meant by his promise to “open” the borders.

“On February 14, 2026, President Tinubu opened the Kamba border in Kebbi State, with attendant economic and diplomatic gains,” the statement said.

The Presidency argued that if Atiku was referring to relaxing existing border controls, he should explain which controls he intended to remove and how his administration would prevent terrorists, arms traffickers, smugglers, human traffickers and other criminal networks from exploiting the borders.

It said an open border should not be confused with an uncontrolled border, stressing that modern border management was designed to facilitate legitimate movement and trade while restricting criminal activities.

According to the Presidency, effective border security requires a combination of immigration controls, customs administration, intelligence-sharing, surveillance technology and coordinated security operations.

The statement also linked Nigeria’s border-security challenges to the wider security situation in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, where terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime continue to pose threats to countries in the region.

The Presidency cited the Global Terrorism Index 2026, which it said showed that about 41 per cent of terrorist attacks occur within 50 kilometres of an international border, while approximately 64 per cent occur within 100 kilometres.

It argued that Nigeria’s focus on security corridors in the Northeast and Northwest should not be interpreted as evidence that the country’s borders are closed.

“Consequently, Nigeria's focus on the Northeast and Northwest corridors, including the coordinated deployment of the Armed Forces and other security institutions, should not be misconstrued as evidence of closed borders. It reflects responsible border security,” the statement said.

The Presidency further urged Atiku, given his experience as a former Vice-President, to distinguish between facilitating legitimate cross-border activities and removing security controls.

It said political criticism was legitimate in a democracy but maintained that pronouncements concerning national security and the economy should be based on facts and accompanied by credible policy alternatives.

The Presidency challenged the ADC presidential candidate to provide details of how he would improve border surveillance, strengthen intelligence-sharing with neighbouring countries, modernise customs and immigration operations, deploy technology, protect border communities and enhance regional cooperation against terrorism and organised crime.

It said the Tinubu administration remained open to scrutiny and should be assessed based on measurable outcomes in security, economic recovery, border management and citizens’ welfare.

The Presidency also questioned what it described as Atiku’s increasing focus on reversing or renaming policies already being implemented by the Tinubu administration.

“Rather than presenting Nigerians with a coherent alternative, Atiku appears increasingly preoccupied with promising to reverse, reopen, or rename initiatives already being implemented,” it said.

The Presidency maintained that Nigeria’s borders should remain open to legitimate commerce and movement while being secured against terrorists and criminals.

“That is the policy conversation Nigerians deserve,” the statement added.