Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential hopeful, Atiku Abubakar, has vowed to reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected in 2027, describing the prolonged closures as catastrophic for young entrepreneurs and the national economy.
In a video shared online by ADC chieftain Dele Momodu on Friday, Atiku contended that the restrictions had dealt a severe blow to legitimate cross-border commerce, pushed countless small-scale traders into bankruptcy, and worsened unemployment, particularly in the northern states.
Legitimate Trade Under Siege
Atiku underscored that communities across northern Nigeria have historically relied on cross-border commerce with Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin Republic.
“The Northern states are bordering Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin Republic,” he said. “And you close all those borders. All our young men who are doing trading between these countries, they carry goods across—all what we call transborder trade is a legitimate business.”
He argued that the policy had disproportionately affected young Nigerians who had invested heavily in their enterprises and provided employment for others.
Jobs Lost, Security Threatened
“All the upcoming young men and women who used to have a capital of 10 million, 20 million, and they were employing two, three other people, and then all of them went bankrupt and unemployed. How can there be security?” he asked.
“So I said I am going to reopen the borders and I will,” Atiku declared.
Port Overhaul on the Agenda
The former vice president also called for substantial investment in southern Nigeria’s port infrastructure, proposing a more efficient corridor for moving imported goods to the north.
He disclosed that during his previous campaign, he had held discussions with European shipping firms and port development companies regarding plans to modernise facilities in the South-East and South-South.
“During the last campaign, I went across to Europe to discuss with shippers and ship development companies how we can together develop South and South-Eastern ports so that there is balance as far as importation of goods and transportation of goods are concerned,” he stated.
Transit Times Could Shrink Dramatically
Atiku maintained that improved ports in the southern region would drastically cut both the time and expense of transporting goods to the North-East.
Citing Yola in Adamawa State as an example, he contrasted the current logistical nightmare with the efficiency his proposals would deliver.
“So when, if I drop my container in Calabar or in Uyo or in Port Harcourt, it will just take me 24 hours to take the container to Yola,” he explained.
“But right now, it takes me not less than two months to take my container from Lagos because you have to cross over from South-West, you go to North-East, and then there is even no road,” Atiku lamented.
The ADC flag-bearer’s pledge adds to growing national discourse on border policy, regional trade integration, and the imperative of job creation for Nigeria’s burgeoning youth population.