Atiku Vows Border Reopening, Southern Ports Development to Revitalize Regional Trade

For the average Nigerian trader, particularly those operating in commercial hubs like Seme, Idiroko, and Jibiya, the land border closures have represented a systematic chokehold on livelihoods. Reopening these channels, subject to enhanced security monitoring, is expected to immediately lower the cost of essential commodities and raw materials. Economists suggest that reinstating formal cross-border commerce will stabilize supply chains and drive down the artificial scarcity that has driven millions of citizens below the poverty line.

Furthermore, the revitalization of southern ports—including those in Port Harcourt, Onne, Calabar, and Warri—is poised to radically alter the cost of doing business. Currently, importers from the eastern and northern parts of Nigeria endure agonizing logistics delays and security risks transporting goods by road from Lagos. By upgrading and dredging the southern waterways to accommodate larger vessels, the proposed policy would slash transit times, reduce transport overheads, and generate thousands of direct and indirect maritime jobs in host communities.

However, critics and skeptical analysts warn that open borders pose a dual-edged sword. Without a comprehensive modernization of the Nigeria Customs Service and the deployment of advanced surveillance technology, reopening the borders could lead to a resurgence of smuggling, proliferation of illicit small arms, and an influx of foreign goods that might undermine local agricultural gains. Observers maintain that any successful liberalization policy must be balanced with robust security frameworks to protect domestic investments.