Transition　metal　oxides　with　high　theoretical　capacities　are　widely　investigated　as　potential　anodes　for　alkali-metal　ion　batteries.　However,　the　intrinsic　conductivity　deficiency　and　large　volume　changes　during　cycles　result　in　poor　cycling　stability　and　low　rate　capabilities.　Graphene　has　been　widely　used　to　support　metal　oxide　for　enhanced　performance,　but　the　cycling　life　is　limited　by　the　aggregation/collapse　of　active　materials　on　graphene　surface.　Herein,　we　significantly　improve　the　battery　performance　of　graphene-metal　oxide　composite　via　pore　engineering　and　surface　protection.　In　this　architecture,　the　mesoporous　NiFe2O4　is　designed　for　fast　ion　diffusion　and　volume　accommodation,　and　the　outer　graphene　protection　can　further　enhance　the　electrical　conductivity　and　prevent　the　aggregation　during　cycle.　Thus,　as-prepared　G@p-NiFe2O4@G　composite　for　lithium　storage　delivers　high　capacity　(1244　mA　h　g(-1)　after　300　cycles　at　0.2　A　g(-1)),　excellent　rate　performance　(563　mA　h　g(-1)　at　4　A　g(-1)),　and　outstanding　cycling　life　up　to　1200　cycles　at　1.5　A　g(-1).　For　sodium　storage,　it　also　displays　good　cycling　stability　and　superior　rate　performance.　Moreover,　the　effects　of　various　microstructures　on　the　battery　performance,　the　reaction　kinetics　of　various　electrodes,　and　the　reaction　mechanism　of　NiFe2O4　have　been　systematically　investigated　in　this　work.