Former vice president and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to reopen Nigeria’s land borders and expand the capacity of ports in the southern part of the country if elected president in 2027.

Atiku made the commitment while addressing supporters in a video circulating online and shared by ADC chieftain, Dele Momodu, on Friday.

The former vice president said the closure of Nigeria’s borders with neighbouring countries had dealt a major blow to transborder trade, forcing many young Nigerians out of business and worsening unemployment.

He argued that legitimate cross-border trading remained an important economic activity, particularly in northern states sharing boundaries with Cameroon, Chad, Niger Republic and Benin Republic.

“So I said I am going to reopen the borders and I will,” Atiku declared.

According to him, many young entrepreneurs who previously operated businesses with capital ranging from N10 million to N20 million were pushed into bankruptcy following the border closures.

He questioned how the government could effectively address insecurity when young people who previously employed others had lost their sources of livelihood.

“All the upcoming young men and women who used to have a capital of 10 million, 20 million, and they were employing two, three other people, and then all of them went bankrupt and unemployed. How can there be security?” he asked.

Beyond reopening the borders, Atiku said his administration would pursue the development of ports in the South and South-East to create a more balanced system for the importation and distribution of goods across the country.

He disclosed that he had previously held discussions in Europe with shippers and ship development companies on how to develop ports in the southern region.

“During the last campaign, I went across to Europe to discuss with shippers and ship development companies how we can together develop South and South-Eastern ports so that there is balance as far as importation of goods and transportation of goods are concerned,” he said.

Atiku said strengthening ports in areas such as Calabar, Uyo and Port Harcourt would significantly reduce the cost and time involved in transporting goods to the North-East.

Using Yola, Adamawa State, as an example, he said goods currently transported from Lagos to the North-East could spend weeks on the road because of poor infrastructure and the long distance involved.

He said establishing more efficient routes through southern ports would enable containers to reach Yola within about 24 hours, depending on the point of entry.

“But right now, it takes me not less than two months to take my container from Lagos because you have to cross over from South-West, you go to North-East, and then there is even no road,” Atiku said.

Nigeria shut its land borders with neighbouring countries in August 2019 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, with the Federal Government citing the need to combat large-scale smuggling and boost domestic production.

The policy targeted the smuggling of rice, poultry products, petroleum products and other commodities, while authorities also cited concerns over the movement of weapons and drugs.

In December 2020, the Buhari administration ordered the reopening of four land borders — Seme in Lagos State, Illela in Sokoto State, Maigatari in Jigawa State and Mfun in Cross River State.

The Tinubu administration subsequently reopened the Tsamiya land border with Benin Republic in Kebbi State and the Kamba corridor linking Nigeria with Niger Republic in February 2026.