The administration of President Bola Tinubu has said that it should be judged by measurable outcomes in security, economic recovery, and citizens’ welfare, not by campaign promises from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to reopen borders or restore fuel subsidy.

Sunday Dare, one of the spokespersons for Mr Tinubu, made this statement on Friday in response to Mr Abubakar’s latest promise to reopen Nigerian borders for legal cross-border trade.

“What Nigerians should reasonably expect from a presidential aspirant is not a slogan about “opening borders,” but a detailed explanation of how his administration would improve border surveillance, strengthen intelligence-sharing with neighbouring states, modernise customs and immigration operations, deploy technology, protect border communities and deepen regional cooperation against terrorism and organised crime,” Mr Dare said.

Highlighting the parameters for scrutinising and judging the performance of the Tinubu-led government, Mr Dare said:

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains open to scrutiny and should be judged by measurable outcomes in security, economic recovery, border management and citizens’ welfare. But such scrutiny must be based on facts.”

He added: “Nigeria’s borders must be open to legitimate commerce and movement, but secure against terrorists and criminals. They must be monitored with technology, led by intelligence, and integrated into the country’s broader national-security and economic strategy. That is the policy conversation Nigerians deserve.”

The presidential spokesperson argued that, “Increasingly, the former Vice President’s public outings and policy pronouncements raise a more fundamental question: what new and credible contribution does he intend to make to Nigeria’s development that is not already contained in the reform trajectory of the present administration?”

“Rather than presenting Nigerians with a coherent alternative, Atiku appears increasingly preoccupied with promising to reverse, reopen, or rename initiatives already being implemented,” Mr Dare said.

Mr Abubakar, who is the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate for 2027, on Thursday vowed to reopen Nigerian borders for legal cross-border trade, lamenting the closure of borders in the northern region and saying the policy has left many young Nigerians engaged in cross-border trade bankrupt and unemployed.

The ADC presidential candidate had earlier promised to restore fuel subsidy, berating Mr Tinubu’s government for subjecting Nigerians to economic hardship through the policy.