{
  "id": 4129547,
  "title": "Presidency faults Atiku’s proposal to reopen borders",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/presidency-faults-atikus-proposal-to-reopen-borders",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T06:50:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Premium Times",
    "slug": "premium-times",
    "url": "https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/906090-presidency-faults-atikus-proposal-to-reopen-borders.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Nigerian Presidency has responded to a campaign pledge by Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, to reopen the country's borders if elected. According to the Presidency, Nigeria's land borders are already open, having been reopened on March 14, 2024, and there has been no reversal of this decision.\n\nThe Presidency, through Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, expressed confusion over which borders Atiku intends to reopen. Dare also mentioned that President Bola Tinubu personally opened the Kamba border in Kebbi State on February 14, 2026. The Presidency suggested that if Atiku means relaxing existing border controls, Nigerians deserve specifics on which controls he intends to remove and why.\n\nThe Presidency described Atiku's pledge as an attempt to deceive Nigerians, alleging that the former Vice President is willing to say anything to attract and deceive the politically gullible. According to Punch, the Presidency stated that an open border is not an uncontrolled border, and modern border management aims to facilitate legitimate movement and trade while preventing criminals and terrorist organisations from exploiting the same channels.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Premium Times",
        "title": "2027: I’ll reopen all borders, develop southern ports if elected – Atiku",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/2027-ill-reopen-all-borders-develop-southern-ports-if-elected-atiku",
        "published": "2026-08-28T15:03:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Nigeria’s borders are already open, Presidency tackles Atiku",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/nigerias-borders-are-already-open-presidency-tackles-atiku-4026384",
        "published": "2026-08-28T19:35:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "Our borders already open, Presidency replies Atiku",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/our-borders-already-open-presidency-replies-atiku",
        "published": "2026-08-28T20:13:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}