Atiku Abubakar pledges to reopen borders and develop southern ports if elected president

He made this pledge in a video shared by ADC chieftain Dele Momodu. Abubakar argued that the closure of borders with neighboring countries has negatively impacted transborder trade and contributed to youth unemployment. He highlighted that many young entrepreneurs, who previously operated businesses with significant capital, have gone bankrupt due to the border closures.

Abubakar also discussed plans to improve the movement of goods by developing ports in the southern and southeastern parts of the country. He believes this would create a balance in the importation and transportation of goods and reduce the time and cost of moving containers to the North-East, citing his own factory in Yola, Adamawa State, as an example. Nigeria's land borders were initially closed in August 2019 under former President Muhammadu Buhari to curb smuggling and encourage local agricultural production.

While some borders were gradually reopened, including four in December 2020 and additional ones under President Bola Tinubu in February 2026, some remain restricted.