Presidency Clarifies Nigeria’s Border Policy, Says Borders Remain Open to Legitimate Movement
Presidency Clarifies Nigeria’s Border Policy, Says Borders Remain Open to Legitimate Movement
Presidency Clarifies Nigeria’s Border Policy, Says Borders Remain Open to Legitimate Movement
The Presidency has clarified that Nigeria’s land borders remain open, following recent comments by former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, that he would “open the borders” if elected president.
In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the Federal Government reopened most of the country’s land borders on March 14, 2024, and has not reversed the decision.
Dare also noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu subsequently opened the Kamba border in Kebbi State on February 14, 2026, describing the development as one that has generated economic and diplomatic benefits.
He explained that while Nigeria’s borders are open to legitimate trade and movement, an open border does not mean an uncontrolled border.
According to him, modern border management is designed to facilitate legitimate economic activities while preventing terrorists, traffickers, smugglers and other criminal networks from exploiting border routes.
He said effective border security requires coordinated immigration and customs operations, intelligence-sharing, surveillance, technology and collaboration among security agencies and neighbouring countries.
The Presidency further stressed that the security situation across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin makes effective border management particularly important for Nigeria, given its borders with Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
Dare cited the Global Terrorism Index 2026, which indicates that a significant proportion of terrorist attacks occur close to international borders, underscoring the vulnerability of border communities and the importance of coordinated security measures.
He said Nigeria’s increased security operations along the North-East and North-West corridors should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that the country’s borders are closed, but rather as part of efforts to protect communities and prevent criminal networks from exploiting border areas.
The Presidency challenged political leaders advocating changes to border policy to provide Nigerians with clear details of the measures they intend to introduce, particularly regarding border surveillance, intelligence-sharing, customs and immigration modernisation, technology deployment and regional security cooperation.
Dare maintained that political debate over national security and the economy is legitimate, but should be based on facts, institutional understanding and clearly defined policy alternatives.
He said Nigeria must maintain borders that are open to legitimate commerce and movement while remaining secure against terrorism, trafficking, smuggling and other transnational crimes.
The Presidency reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening border management as part of its broader national security and economic strategy, while urging Nigerians to assess competing political positions based on measurable outcomes and credible policy proposals.
Presidency Clarifies Nigeria’s Border Policy, Says Borders Remain Open to Legitimate Movement
