Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has pushed back against comments by former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, insisting that Nigeria’s borders are not closed and therefore do not require reopening.
The minister’s remarks followed Atiku’s recent pledge to reopen Nigeria’s land borders and ease the movement of goods across neighbouring countries if elected president in 2027.
Atiku had argued that border closures disrupted transborder trade, contributed to business failures and worsened insecurity, particularly in northern border communities.
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In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Tunji-Ojo said the former vice president’s comments did not accurately reflect the current state of Nigeria’s border operations.
As Minister of Interior, with oversight responsibility for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the agency responsible for border and migration management, Tunji-Ojo said it was necessary to clarify the facts.
According to him, several border posts closed under the previous administration were reopened years ago.
- “On 16 December 2020, the previous government reopened Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfum, with the rest to follow. Idiroko and Ikom were reopened for goods and services on 20 April 2022, while Kamba and Tsamiya in Kebbi State were reopened under the current administration in February 2026, linking Nigeria with Niger Republic and Benin Republic respectively,” he stated.
The minister also addressed Atiku’s references to Nigeria’s borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic, noting that some closures in the North-East were security-related rather than trade-driven.
He explained that the closures of Banki and Amchidé border crossings dated back to 2014 when Boko Haram insurgency…
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