We’re not considering siting any foreign military base in Nigeria, says FG

The federal government says it is not true that there are discussions between Nigeria and some foreign countries on the siting of foreign military bases in the country.

In a statement on Monday, Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, urged Nigerians to disregard the “falsehood”.

Idris said the federal government has neither received nor considered any proposal for the establishment of foreign military bases in the country.

“The Nigerian government already enjoys foreign cooperation in tackling ongoing security challenges,” the statement reads.

“The president remains committed to deepening these partnerships, with the goal of achieving the national security objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Recently, some northern leaders cautioned President Bola Tinubu against allowing the US and French governments to relocate their military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria.

In a letter addressed to Tinubu and the national assembly on Friday, the northern leaders said accepting such a proposal would pose dangers to the country.

The northern leaders said the US and French governments have allegedly been lobbying Nigeria and other countries in the region to sign a new defence pact allowing them to redeploy their expelled troops.

BACKGROUND

The relationship between Niger Republic and France became strained after the military coup in the Sahel country.

France condemned the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic and demanded that constitutional order be returned.

After seizing power, the junta made France’s military exit one of its key priorities, a move which, neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali — both also former French colonies — made after successful coups.

France, a key security ally of the West African nation, had more than 1,500 troops stationed in Niger to help fight jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State and to prevent further spread of terrorism across the Sahel.

Capitalising on the anti-Western sentiments in the Sahel, Russia began to make fresh inroads into the continent.

After expelling French forces, the Nigerien junta agreed in January to step up military cooperation with Russia.

In March, the junta revoked an accord with the US government which allowed American troops to operate on two of its bases.

The US also reportedly agreed to close down its $100 million military drone base near Agadez, which was built six years ago and played a key role in the US-France strategy to combat jihadists in West Africa.

The Russian alliance was solidified when military instructors from the country arrived in Niger with the latest equipment to train the West African nation’s army.

The development has fueled fears in some quarters that the US and France may want to site new military bases in Nigeria after their military personnel were dislodged in Niger Republic.