Tunji-Ojo to Atiku: Nigeria’s Land Borders Are Not Closed

By Adebola Muili

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has dismissed claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that he would reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected President in 2027, insisting that the country’s land borders are not closed and therefore cannot be reopened.

Tunji-Ojo stated this in a statement issued on Saturday, August 29, 2026, following comments attributed to Atiku on his plans for Nigeria’s land borders.

The minister, who supervises the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), said it was necessary to clarify the status of the country’s borders, noting that the NIS is responsible for border and migration management.

According to him, several major land borders have already been reopened, citing Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfum, which were reopened on December 16, 2020.

He added that Idiroko and Ikom were reopened for goods and services on April 20, 2022, while Kamba and Tsamiya border crossings in Kebbi State followed under the current administration in February 2026, linking Nigeria with Niger Republic and Benin Republic respectively.

Tunji-Ojo also faulted Atiku’s reference to Nigeria’s borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin, saying the history of some of the affected crossings was rooted in security concerns rather than the 2019 trade policy.

He explained that the prolonged closure of the Banki and Amchidé borders with Cameroon was triggered by Boko Haram insurgency in 2014 and was not connected to the 2019 trade policy.

“The prolonged closures on the Cameroon border, at Banki and Amchidé, did not arise from the 2019 trade policy at all. They date to 2014, when Boko Haram forced their closure for security reasons,” he said.

The minister noted that the affected crossings were reopened in 2019, while Fotokol and Gambaru followed in 2021 after joint military and stabilisation efforts by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

He consequently warned against presenting the different circumstances surrounding Nigeria’s border management as one continuous shutdown.

“Folding this separate, security-driven history into one continuous 2019 shutdown misrepresents two distinct issues, trade regulation and counter insurgency, as a single failure,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The minister acknowledged, however, that not every northern crossing is currently operating without restrictions, explaining that tighter controls remain in place in areas where banditry or residual insurgent activities persist.

He described the restrictions as deliberate security decisions rather than neglect, stressing that premature reopening could expose traders and border communities to greater risks.

“Where banditry or residual insurgent activity persists, tighter control is a deliberate security judgement, not neglect, since reopening ahead of the security situation would expose traders and border communities to greater risk,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo further argued that modern border management should not be viewed as a choice between total closure and unrestricted movement, but as a system that combines security with documentation, customs compliance and controlled trade facilitation.

“Modern border management is not a choice between total closure and unrestricted movement; it requires security, documentation, customs compliance and controlled trade facilitation together,” he said.

The minister also cautioned against turning political competition into an attempt to rewrite recent history, urging Atiku to provide details of his proposed border policy and explain how it would differ from the current approach.

“Political competition should not become a competition to rewrite recent history,” Tunji-Ojo said.

He added that Atiku should set out his proposed policy rather than treating separate trade, security and infrastructure issues as one and the same.