ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has outlined major trade reforms as part of his campaign agenda. He says he will reopen Nigeria’s land borders and invest heavily in port infrastructure in the southern region if elected.
According to Atiku, shutting down the borders has hurt businesses and ordinary Nigerians more than it helped. Reopening them, he argues, would restore cross-border commerce, reduce smuggling through unofficial routes, and make goods more affordable for consumers.
The former Vice President also put emphasis on decongesting trade by developing ports outside Lagos. He proposed modernizing and expanding facilities in the South to create alternative channels for imports and exports. The goal, he said, is to ease pressure on existing terminals and cut the delays that currently drive up costs.
Atiku linked the plan directly to job creation and economic growth. He noted that improved port capacity combined with open borders would attract investors, strengthen supply chains, and give small businesses better access to regional markets across West Africa.
The promises form part of a broader pitch to revamp Nigeria’s economy through trade liberalization and infrastructure upgrades. Atiku said his administration would prioritize policies that make it easier and cheaper to move goods, with the expectation that this will translate to more employment opportunities for youths.
Atiku Pledges Border Reopening and Southern Port Expansion to Drive Trade and Jobs
