Presidency Responds to Atiku: ‘Nigeria’s Land Borders Are Already Open’

The Presidency has rejected a campaign promise by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected president, saying the country’s borders are already open.

The Presidency described Atiku’s promise as misleading, arguing that the Federal Government had already reopened most of Nigeria’s land borders in March 2024.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, made the position known in a statement titled “Atiku and the Borders: Nigerians Deserve Facts, Not Campaign Slogans.”

Dare said Nigeria’s land borders were reopened by the Federal Government on March 14, 2024, and that the policy had not been reversed.

According to him, President Tinubu also personally inaugurated the Kamba border in Kebbi State on February 14, 2026, describing the development as one that had produced economic and diplomatic benefits.

Dare therefore questioned which borders Atiku intended to reopen, given that the government had already declared most of them open.

He, however, said that if Atiku was referring to easing existing border controls, the former Vice President should clearly explain which controls he planned to remove and how his administration would prevent security threats.

The Presidency stressed that an open border should not be confused with an uncontrolled border.

It explained that modern border management allows legitimate movement, trade and economic activities while maintaining measures to prevent terrorism, arms trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking and other forms of organised crime.

Dare said effective border management requires immigration and customs controls, intelligence-sharing, surveillance technology and cooperation among security agencies and neighbouring countries.

He also pointed to Nigeria’s strategic position in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, noting that the country shares borders with Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

He warned that terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime in the region could exploit weak border controls.

Citing the Global Terrorism Index 2026, Dare said a significant proportion of terrorist attacks occur close to international borders, making border communities particularly vulnerable where there is difficult terrain, limited government presence and inadequate security coordination.

He also defended the deployment of security forces across Nigeria’s North-East and North-West, saying the presence of troops and other security agencies in those areas should not be interpreted as evidence that the borders are closed.

According to the Presidency, security forces must protect Nigeria’s borders while maintaining legitimate trade and movement across them.

Dare challenged Atiku to provide a detailed policy plan rather than campaign slogans, particularly on how he would improve border surveillance, strengthen intelligence-sharing with neighbouring countries, modernise customs and immigration operations, introduce technology, protect border communities and combat terrorism and organised crime.

He said Nigerians deserved a clear explanation of what a new administration would do differently to improve the country’s security and economy.

The Presidency further questioned Atiku’s broader campaign agenda, asking what new and credible policies he intended to introduce that were not already part of the Tinubu administration’s reform programme.

It accused the former Vice President of focusing on promises to reverse, reopen or rename initiatives that were already being implemented.

The Presidency maintained that Nigeria’s borders should remain open to legitimate commerce and movement while being sufficiently secured against terrorists and criminal networks.

It said border security must be intelligence-driven, technology-supported and integrated into Nigeria’s wider national security and economic strategy.