The Federal Government has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of misrepresenting the status of Nigeria’s land borders, insisting that the country’s borders are open and therefore cannot be “reopened” as proposed by the former presidential candidate if elected President in 2027.
It stated that the former Vice President’s claim failed to distinguish between past trade-related border closures and restrictions imposed in some areas for security reasons.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, faulted the former Vice President’s claim on Saturday while responding to comments credited to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate on his plan to reopen Nigeria’s land borders.
Tunji-Ojo, whose ministry supervises the Nigeria Immigration Service, stressed that several major land borders have been reopened since the closure imposed under the previous administration.
According to him, Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfum border posts were reopened on December 16, 2020, while Idiroko and Ikom were reopened for the movement of goods and services on April 20, 2022.
Tunji-Ojo added that Kamba and Tsamiya border crossings in Kebbi State were reopened in February 2026 under the current administration, strengthening links with Niger Republic and Benin Republic.
The minister particularly faulted Atiku’s references to Nigeria’s borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic, saying the history of some of the affected crossings had been wrongly presented as part of the 2019 border closure policy.
According to him, the closure of Banki and Amchidé border crossings along the Cameroon axis was primarily a security measure dating back to 2014, when Boko Haram activities forced their shutdown.
He said the crossings were reopened in 2019, while Fotokol and Gambaru followed in 2021 after joint military and stabilisation efforts involving Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
“Folding this separate, security-driven history into one continuous 2019 shutdown misrepresents two distinct issues — trade regulation and counter-insurgency — as a single failure,” the minister said.
Tunji-Ojo maintained that while some border crossings, particularly in parts of northern Nigeria, may still be subject to tighter controls, such restrictions were based on prevailing security realities rather than government neglect.
He said reopening border routes without regard to banditry and residual insurgency could expose traders, travellers and border communities to serious danger.
“Not every northern crossing is fully unrestricted today. Where banditry or residual insurgent activity persists, tighter control is a deliberate security judgement, not neglect,” he said.
The minister stressed that modern border management could not be reduced to a choice between complete closure and unrestricted movement.
According to him, effective border administration requires a balance between national security, proper documentation, customs compliance and the facilitation of legitimate trade.
Tunji-Ojo urged political leaders to avoid what he described as attempts to distort recent history in pursuit of political advantage ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Political competition should not become a competition to rewrite recent history,” he said.
He challenged Atiku to clearly present any new border policy he intended to pursue and explain how it differed from the measures already being implemented by the Federal Government.
“If he has a new border proposal, he should set it out and explain how it differs from the current approach, rather than treating separate trade, security and infrastructure issues as one and the same,” Tunji-Ojo said.
