{
  "id": 3927939,
  "title": "2027: Atiku Vows To Reopen Land Borders if elected",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/2027-atiku-vows-to-reopen-land-borders-if-elected",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T07:59:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/2027-atiku-vows-to-reopen-land-borders-if-elected/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the upcoming 2027 Nigerian general elections, Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has pledged to reopen Nigeria's land borders if elected. Speaking to his supporters through a video shared by ADC chieftain Dele Momodu, Atiku argued that reopening the borders would revitalize transborder trade, generate economic opportunities for young Nigerians, and enhance security by reestablishing livelihoods disrupted by border restrictions.\n\nThe former vice president pointed out that the land borders separating Nigeria from its neighbors - Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and the Republic of Benin - play a crucial role in transborder commerce. Atiku emphasized that the current border closures have forced many young traders out of business, leaving them unemployed after losing investments in cross-border enterprises. He questioned how such a situation could contribute to security in the country.\n\nAtiku's proposed border policy is also tied to a broader strategy to improve the movement of goods across Nigeria. He has been engaging European shippers and ship development companies to develop ports in the Southern and Southeastern regions of the country, aiming to create a more balanced system for importing and transporting goods. According to Atiku, enhancing infrastructure in these areas would significantly reduce the time and cost involved in moving goods from the Southern and Southeastern regions to the Northern states.\n\nFor instance, Atiku cited the case of a factory he owns in Yola, Adamawa State, and the challenges faced in transporting containers from Lagos to Yola. He claimed that with the current border restrictions, it takes at least two months to transport a container from Lagos to Yola, due to the need to cross multiple regions and lack of appropriate road infrastructure. By developing ports closer to the Southern and Southeastern regions, Atiku believes that the time and cost involved in moving goods would be substantially reduced.",
  "summary": "Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has vowed to reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected president in the 2027 general elections. Atiku made the pledge while addressing supporters in a video circulating online and shared by ADC chieftain, Dele Momodu, on Friday. The former vice […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}