African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to reopen all closed borders across Northern Nigeria to revive trans-border trade and tackle growing insecurity.

Addressing supporters in a video circulating online on Friday, the former Vice President lamented that the prolonged border closures have crippled local businesses and driven thousands of young entrepreneurs into bankruptcy.

Atiku argued that cutting off trade with neighboring Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin Republic directly fuels the region`s security crisis by manufacturing mass unemployment.

"All our young men and women who are engaged in trans-border trading are involved in legitimate business," Atiku said. "Those with capital of over one million Naira, who used to employ others, have gone bankrupt and become unemployed. How can there be security? If elected in 2027, I am going to reopen all the borders."