{
  "id": 4218002,
  "title": "Borders not closed, Tunji-Ojo faults Atiku’s plan to reopen land borders",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/borders-not-closed-tunji-ojo-faults-atikus-plan-to-reopen-land-borders-4218002",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T15:32:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/borders-not-closed-tunji-ojo-faults-atikus-plan-to-reopen-land-borders/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's proposal to reopen Nigeria's land borders if elected President in 2027 has been criticized by Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Tunji-Ojo stated that Nigerian borders are not closed and cannot be reopened, as they are managed by the Nigeria Immigration Service. He recalled that the previous administration had reopened four major land borders between 2020 and 2022, and the current administration had reopened Kamba and Tsamiya in February 2026. Tunji-Ojo also disputed Atiku's claim that the borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic were closed due to the 2019 trade policy, stating that these closures were due to security concerns stemming from the Boko Haram insurgency. He acknowledged that some northern crossings were not yet fully unrestricted, attributing this to ongoing security challenges. Tunji-Ojo urged Atiku to provide details of his proposed border policy, rather than treating the country's trade, security and infrastructure issues as a single issue.",
  "summary": "Minister Tunji-Ojo clarifies that Nigeria borders are not closed, countering Atiku’s plan to reopen them. Learn about current border management and securit Read More: https://punchng.com/borders-not-closed-tunji-ojo-faults-atikus-plan-to-reopen-land-borders/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Nairametrics",
        "title": "Tunji-Ojo challenges Atiku over border reopening pledge",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/tunji-ojo-challenges-atiku-over-border-reopening-pledge",
        "published": "2026-08-29T14:04:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Borders not closed, Tunji-Ojo faults Atiku’s plan to reopen land borders",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/borders-not-closed-tunji-ojo-faults-atikus-plan-to-reopen-land-borders",
        "published": "2026-08-29T15:08:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}