Tunji-Ojo to Atiku: You can’t reopen borders that are not closed

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's plan to reopen Nigeria's land borders if elected President in 2027 has been dismissed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Tunji-Ojo stated that Nigeria's borders are not currently closed and therefore cannot be reopened. The Nigeria Immigration Service, under his ministry, is responsible for border and migration management, and the current administration continues to facilitate controlled movement and trade across the country's borders.

The minister recalled that four major land borders were reopened during the previous administration, and the current administration reopened Kamba and Tsamiya in Kebbi State in February 2026. Tunji-Ojo disputed Atiku's reference to the borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic as being closed for a prolonged period, stating that security concerns, not the 2019 trade policy, were the cause of the closures.

He also noted that some northern crossings are not yet fully unrestricted due to continuing security challenges in some areas. Tunji-Ojo cautioned against using political competition to rewrite recent history and challenged Atiku to provide details of his proposed border policy.