Nigeria’s Land Borders Are Not Closed – Tunji-Ojo

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said Nigeria’s land borders are not closed, countering claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that he would reopen them if elected president in 2027.

In a statement on Saturday, Tunji-Ojo said the Nigeria Immigration Service, which he supervises, had already reopened several border posts under both the previous and current administrations.

“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, and Kamba and Tsamiya, in Kebbi State, followed under the current administration in February 2026, linking to Niger Republic and Benin Republic respectively,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The minister said the prolonged closures on the Cameroon border at Banki and Amchidé did not arise from the 2019 trade policy but dated to 2014, when Boko Haram forced their closure for security reasons.

“They date to 2014, when Boko Haram forced their closure for security reasons, and reopened in 2019, with Fotokol and Gambaru following in 2021, after joint military and stabilisation efforts by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad,” Tunji-Ojo said.

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

The minister said that not every northern crossing is fully unrestricted today, adding that tighter controls in areas where banditry or insurgent activity persists are “a deliberate security judgement, not neglect.”

“Not every northern crossing is fully unrestricted today. 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 added.

Tunji-Ojo said modern border management requires security, documentation, customs compliance and controlled trade facilitation together.

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

“Political competition should not become a competition to rewrite recent history. If he has a new border proposal, he should set it out and explain how it differs from the current approach, rather than treating separate trade, security and infrastructure issues as one and the same.”