Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has pledged to reopen Nigeria’s closed land borders and prioritise the development of southern seaports if elected into office.
Speaking at campaign rallies, Atiku said the border closures under the previous administration had stifled legitimate trade with neighbouring countries, hurt border communities, and limited economic opportunities.
He argued that controlled reopening would boost cross-border commerce, create jobs, and restore economic activity, while still allowing security agencies to curb smuggling of arms, drugs, and other contraband.
The former customs officer emphasised his experience in border management, stating he understood the issues better than his rivals and would ensure trade flows freely without compromising national security.
On infrastructure, Atiku also committed to rehabilitating and expanding ports in the South, particularly those in Delta and other Niger Delta states.
He promised to renovate sea ports, complete abandoned federal projects in the region, and improve hinterland connectivity to ease congestion at Lagos ports and stimulate economic growth in the South-South and South-East.
These pledges form part of Atiku’s broader economic agenda, which includes tackling insecurity, restoring peace to enable farming and business, improving education access, and creating an enabling environment for private investment.
He has repeatedly urged voters to support the PDP, saying only a change in leadership would deliver the necessary reforms.
Critics of the border-reopening plan, including officials of the then-ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government, had warned that indiscriminate opening could flood the market with imported rice and other goods, undermine local producers, and increase insecurity through arms proliferation.
Atiku’s camp maintained that proper regulation and enforcement would prevent such outcomes while unlocking trade benefits under frameworks such as ECOWAS protocols.
The promises were made during the run-up to the 2023 general elections as Atiku sought to position himself as a candidate focused on economic recovery and regional development.
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