Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has promised to reopen Nigeria’s land borders and develop southern ports if elected president in 2027.
Atiku made the pledge on Wednesday in Abuja when a political support group visited him, arguing that prolonged restrictions on legitimate trans-border commerce had crippled businesses, worsened unemployment and pushed many young entrepreneurs into bankruptcy.
“How can there be security? So I said I’m going to reopen the borders,” Atiku said.
Atiku said the measure would revive cross-border trade, reduce transportation costs and unlock economic opportunities.
He stressed that Nigeria’s northern states share borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic, making cross-border trade critical to the livelihoods of millions of residents.
