Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, has promised to reopen Nigeria’s land borders and develop ports in the southern part of the country if elected president in 2027.
Atiku made the statement on Wednesday in Abuja when a political support group visited him.
He said the closure of Nigeria’s borders had negatively affected legitimate cross-border trade, forcing some young entrepreneurs into bankruptcy and unemployment.
According to him, northern states bordering Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin rely heavily on cross-border trade for economic activities and livelihoods.
Atiku said: “How can there be security? So I said I’m going to reopen the borders.”
Plan to Develop Southern Ports
The former vice-president also promised to improve ports in the South to create a more balanced system for importing and transporting goods across the country.
He said ports in Calabar, Uyo and Port Harcourt could be developed to reduce the cost and time involved in transporting goods to northern states.
Atiku explained that transporting a container from Lagos to Yola can take as long as two months because of poor road infrastructure.
He argued that reopening the borders and improving port infrastructure would boost businesses, ease the movement of goods and create more economic opportunities.
The pledge comes months after the administration of President Bola Tinubu reopened the Kamba and Tsamiya border routes with Niger Republic.
Atiku said more measures were still needed to restore legitimate cross-border trade and strengthen Nigeria’s transportation and trade infrastructure.
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