Tunji-Ojo Clarifies Nigeria Border Status: No 'Reopening Plan' Needed

• Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo stated that Nigeria's land borders are not closed and therefore cannot be 'reopened' as suggested by former VP Atiku Abubakar.
• The Nigeria Immigration Service, under the Ministry of Interior, manages border and migration, facilitating controlled movement and trade.
• Several major land borders were reopened between 2020 and 2026, including Seme, Illela, Maigatari, Mfum, Idiroko, Ikom, Kamba, and Tsamiya.
• Closures at specific Cameroon border points (Banki, Amchidé) were due to Boko Haram security concerns from 2014, not a 2019 trade policy.
• Some northern crossings remain restricted due to ongoing security challenges like banditry, representing a deliberate security judgment to protect communities and trade.

For compliance officers and legal counsel advising on cross-border trade or logistics in Nigeria, this distinction is crucial: while land borders are officially not closed, specific northern crossings may remain restricted due to security, necessitating due diligence on operational status for particular routes and goods.

Nigeria's Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, recently clarified the official stance on the nation's land borders, directly addressing comments made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Tunji-Ojo asserted that the country's borders are not currently closed and, consequently, cannot be subject to a 'reopening plan' as proposed by Abubakar for a potential 2027 presidential term. This statement came in response to Abubakar's public remarks concerning his intentions for Nigeria's land borders.

The Minister emphasized that the Nigeria Immigration Service, operating under the purview of the Ministry of Interior, holds the primary responsibility for border and migration management. He highlighted that the current administration's policy has consistently focused on facilitating controlled movement and trade across all of Nigeria's international boundaries. This approach, according to Tunji-Ojo, underscores a nuanced strategy rather than a blanket closure or unrestricted access.

To underscore the ongoing operational status of the borders, Tunji-Ojo provided a timeline of recent reopenings. He recalled that the previous administration had already reopened four significant land borders—Seme, Illela, Maigatari, and Mfum—on December 16, 2020. This was followed by the reopening of Idiroko and Ikom for goods and services on April 20, 2022. Further demonstrating continuous access, the current administration facilitated the reopening of Kamba and Tsamiya in Kebbi State in February 2026, establishing vital links to Niger Republic and Benin Republic, respectively.

The Minister also challenged Abubakar's claim that borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin Republic had endured prolonged closures due to a 2019 trade policy. Tunji-Ojo clarified that specific closures along the Cameroon border, particularly at Banki and Amchidé, were not related to trade regulations but stemmed from security concerns arising from the Boko Haram insurgency, dating back to 2014. These crossings were subsequently reopened in 2019, with Fotokol and Gambaru following in 2021, after collaborative military and stabilization efforts involving Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad. He stressed that conflating these distinct issues—trade policy and counter-insurgency—misrepresents the complex history of border management.

Despite the official position that borders are not closed, Tunji-Ojo acknowledged that certain northern crossings continue to operate with restrictions. This situation, he explained, is a direct consequence of persistent security challenges, including banditry and residual insurgent activity, in those specific areas. He clarified that these tighter controls represent a deliberate security judgment, rather than a form of neglect, aimed at safeguarding national interests.

For compliance officers and legal counsel advising on cross-border trade or logistics in Nigeria, this distinction is crucial: while land borders are officially not closed, specific northern crossings may remain restricted due to security, necessitating due diligence on operational status for particular routes and goods. The Minister warned against the premature reopening of border crossings without significant improvements in the security landscape, cautioning that such actions could expose both traders and border communities to heightened risks. He articulated that effective border management is not a binary choice between complete closure and unrestricted movement; instead, it demands a comprehensive approach integrating security measures, proper documentation, customs compliance, and controlled trade facilitation.

In light of the ongoing discourse, Tunji-Ojo urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to present a detailed outline of his proposed border policy, should he seek the presidency. The Minister challenged Abubakar to articulate how his approach would differ from the current strategies, rather than consolidating distinct trade, security, and infrastructure issues into a single, undifferentiated problem. This call for clarity aims to foster a more informed public debate on the complexities of Nigeria's border management.

Furthermore, Tunji-Ojo cautioned against leveraging political competition to distort the factual record of recent developments in Nigeria's border management. He underscored the importance of accurate representation when discussing critical national issues such as the Tunji-Ojo Nigeria border status, emphasizing that such matters require careful consideration beyond political rhetoric.

Compliance officers and legal counsel advising on cross-border trade or logistics in Nigeria should be aware that while land borders are officially not closed, specific northern crossings may remain restricted due to security, necessitating due diligence on operational status for particular routes and goods.

Source: Original reporting via The Punch