The Presidency has responded to African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s promise to reopen Nigeria’s borders if elected in 2027.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the country’s land borders are already open. Dare made this known in a statement on Friday titled, “Atiku and the Borders: Nigerians Deserve Facts, Not Campaign Slogans.”
Presidency explains border policy
According to Dare, the Federal Government reopened most of Nigeria’s land borders on March 14, 2024. He said the government has not reversed that decision. He therefore questioned Atiku’s promise to reopen the borders, asking which borders the former Vice President intended to open.
“The facts are straightforward, Nigeria’s land borders are already open. The Federal Government announced the reopening of most of the country’s land borders on 14 March 2024, and it has not reversed that position.
“It is therefore difficult to understand which borders the former Vice President intends to open when the borders are already open,” Dare said.
The presidential aide also cited the reopening of the Kamba border in Kebbi State by President Bola Tinubu on February 14, 2026. He said the move had strengthened economic activities and diplomatic relations in the area.
Dare warns against uncontrolled borders
Dare said Nigeria could maintain open borders without abandoning security measures. He explained that proper border management should allow legal travel and trade while keeping criminals and terrorist groups out.
“An open border is not an uncontrolled border. Modern border management is designed to facilitate legitimate movement, trade and economic interaction while preventing criminals and terrorist organisations from exploiting the same channels,” he said.
He listed immigration checks, customs operations, intelligence sharing, surveillance and technology among the measures needed to secure the country’s borders. Dare said these measures remain important because of Nigeria’s location within the wider Sahel and Lake Chad security region.
Presidency highlights security concerns
According to Dare, Nigeria shares borders with Niger, Chad and Cameroon. He said criminal and terrorist groups can exploit weak border controls to move across countries. The presidential aide cited the Global Terrorism Index 2026. He said about 41 per cent of terrorist attacks occur within 50 kilometres of an international border.
Dare added that about 64 per cent of such attacks occur within 100 kilometres of a border. He said border communities face greater risks when difficult terrain, weak government presence and poor coordination create room for armed groups to operate.
Dare also defended the presence of security personnel around Nigeria’s North-East and North-West corridors. He said their deployment does not mean that the borders remain closed. Instead, he described it as part of the government’s wider border security strategy.
Dare asks Atiku to explain his plan
Dare said Atiku should understand the difference between reopening borders and removing border controls, given his experience as a former Vice President. He challenged the ADC candidate to explain the specific changes he would make if he becomes president.
“If he means he would relax existing border controls, then Nigerians deserve to know precisely which controls he intends to remove, why he considers their removal necessary, and what safeguards his administration would deploy against terrorism, arms trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking, and other forms of transnational organised crime,” Dare said.
He said presidential candidates should offer Nigerians clear policies instead of broad campaign promises. Dare added that such policies should cover border surveillance, intelligence sharing, customs and immigration operations, technology and cooperation with neighbouring countries.
Presidency questions Atiku’s campaign promises
The Presidency also questioned Atiku’s wider campaign agenda. Dare asked what new policies the former Vice President plans to introduce that the Tinubu administration has not already addressed. He accused Atiku of making promises to reverse policies that the current administration has already introduced or changed.
Dare, however, said the Federal Government remains open to criticism when it rests on verifiable facts. He maintained that Nigeria should keep its borders open for legitimate movement and trade while taking firm steps to prevent terrorists and criminal networks from exploiting them.
Read also: NDLEA Intercepts 1.63 Million Tramadol Pills in Cross-Border Drug Bust
