Border Politics: Tunji-Ojo Faults Atiku’s 2027 Campaign Pledge, Insists Nigeria's Frontiers Are Not Closed

To fully appreciate this policy clash, one must look back at the controversial 2019 border closure under former President Muhammadu Buhari, which aimed to curb rice smuggling and spur local production. While that directive was eventually reversed, its socio-economic aftershocks are still deeply felt in border towns such as Seme, Idiroko, and Jibiya. It is this lingering economic trauma that Atiku is strategically leveraging to garner grassroots support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

From an analytical standpoint, Tunji-Ojo's response reflects the Ministry of Interior's ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria's border management. The government has increasingly leaned toward "smart borders"—integrating biometric identification, e-gates at major entry points, and real-time geospatial surveillance. This modern approach seeks to dismantle the archaic notion that a border must either be entirely sealed or completely lawless.

However, economic analysts point out that while the borders may legally be "open," the realities on the ground tell a more complex story. Exorbitant customs duties, multiple security checkpoints, and systemic corruption at the frontiers continue to act as non-tariff barriers, stifling intra-regional trade within the ECOWAS bloc. This discrepancy between official policy and the lived experience of traders provides fertile ground for political campaign promises.

As the road to 2027 beckons, the debate over border administration will likely intensify. The challenge for the current administration lies not just in refuting opposition narratives, but in demonstrating that its "secured and open" border policy can actively drive down food inflation, protect local industries, and secure the lives of everyday Nigerians who bear the brunt of border-associated vulnerabilities.