Our borders already open, Presidency replies Atiku

The Presidency has responded to Atiku Abubakar's assertion that he would "open the borders" if elected president in 2027. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, clarified that the Federal Government reopened most of Nigeria's land borders on March 14, 2024, and has not reversed that decision.

Dare questioned which borders Atiku intends to open when they are already open. The Presidency emphasized the need for Nigerians to know precisely which controls Atiku intends to remove, why he deems their removal necessary, and what safeguards his administration would implement to combat terrorism, arms trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking, and other forms of transnational organized crime.

The Presidency argued that an open border is not an uncontrolled border, as modern border management balances facilitating legitimate movement, trade, and economic interaction while preventing criminal and terrorist organizations from exploiting the same channels. The Presidency highlighted the importance of border security for Nigeria, given its northern security environment's connection to developments in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.

Both Niger, Chad, and Cameroon share borders with Nigeria, and the region faces terrorism, violent extremism, and transnational organized crime. The Global Terrorism Index 2026 reveals that approximately 41% of terrorist attacks occur within 50 kilometers of an international border, while 64% occur within 100 kilometers. Borderlands are vulnerable due to difficult terrain, limited state presence, and weak coordination, creating opportunities for terrorist organizations to operate.

The Presidency stated that while political contestation is acceptable in a democracy, statements about national security and the Nigerian economy should be based on facts, institutional understanding, and a credible alternative policy agenda. They urged presidential candidates to provide a detailed explanation of how their administration would enhance border surveillance, improve intelligence-sharing with neighboring states, modernize customs and immigration operations, deploy technology, protect border communities, and deepen regional cooperation against terrorism and organized crime.