You can’t reopen what isn’t closed’ — Tunji-Ojo fires back at Atiku

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his promise to reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected president in 2027.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the promise on Wednesday when a political support group visited him in Abuja.

He said the closure of Nigeria’s land borders had negatively affected legitimate businesses, especially those involved in cross-border trade. According to him, the situation had forced some young entrepreneurs out of business and into unemployment.

Atiku said he would reopen the borders and also develop the country’s southern ports to improve trade.

However, Tunji-Ojo, in a statement posted on X on Saturday, said Atiku’s claim that Nigeria’s land borders were closed was incorrect.

The minister said he was in a position to clarify the issue because his ministry supervises the Nigeria Immigration Service, which is responsible for border and migration management.

He explained that several major land borders had already been reopened since 2020.

According to him, the Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfum borders were reopened, while the Idiroko and Ikom crossings were reopened for goods and services in April 2022.

Tunji-Ojo added that the Kamba and Tsamiya border crossings in Kebbi State were reopened in February 2026 under the current administration.

The minister also explained the situation concerning some border crossings between Nigeria and Cameroon.

He said the Banki and Amchidé crossings were closed in 2014 because of the Boko Haram insurgency and not because of Nigeria’s 2019 trade policy.

He said the crossings were reopened in 2019, while the Fotokol and Gambaru crossings were reopened in 2021 following joint military and stabilisation efforts by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria’s border management policy was aimed at balancing national security with trade and the movement of people.

He explained that effective border management was not simply about closing borders or allowing unrestricted movement. Instead, it required proper documentation, customs compliance, security measures and measures to make legitimate trade easier.

The minister, however, admitted that stricter controls were still being maintained at some northern border crossings because of banditry and remaining insurgency threats.

Tunji-Ojo challenged Atiku to explain how his proposed border policy would be different from the measures currently being implemented by the Federal Government.

He urged the former vice-president to present specific details of his plan instead of presenting border security, trade and infrastructure challenges as a single issue.

The minister also warned against allowing political competition to distort what he described as the recent history of Nigeria’s border management.

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