Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has promised to reopen Nigeria’s land borders and develop southern ports if he wins the presidency in the 2027 election, saying the measures would strengthen trade and reduce the cost of moving goods across the country.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the pledge on Wednesday when a political support group visited him in Abuja. He argued that restrictions on cross-border movement had hurt legitimate businesses and contributed to unemployment in northern communities.

The former vice-president said states in northern Nigeria share borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger Republic and Benin Republic, making cross-border commerce an important part of the local economy. He said prolonged border closures had pushed some young entrepreneurs out of business.

“How can there be security? So I said I’m going to reopen the borders,” Atiku said, while outlining his proposed approach to trade and border management.

His comments come months after President Bola Tinubu’s administration reopened the Kamba and Tsamiya border routes with Niger Republic. The Kamba border was reopened on February 9, 2026, as part of efforts to revive cross-border economic activity.

Atiku also proposed developing ports in southern Nigeria to create a more balanced route for the importation and distribution of goods. He said he had previously held discussions with shipping and ship development companies in Europe on expanding the capacity of ports in the south and south-east.

The ADC candidate specifically mentioned Calabar, Uyo and Port Harcourt as locations where improved port infrastructure could help reduce the cost and time involved in transporting goods to northern states. Nigeria currently has major ports in Lagos, Rivers, Delta and Cross River states.

Using his factory in Adamawa as an example, Atiku said moving a container from Lagos to Yola could take as long as two months because of poor road infrastructure. He argued that stronger ports in the south, better roads and reopened borders would make the movement of goods more efficient and create new opportunities for businesses.