By Funso Alarape
Tuesday May 7, 2024
Please, share this story:
The Federal Government has said it was not considering requests from any country to establish a military base in Nigeria.
.
The Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris said yesterday as he dismissed unfounded reports that the government was considering the citing of military bases in the country, saying Nigeria “is not in any such discussion with any foreign country”.
The Federal Government was reacting to accusations by some Nigerians, CSOs and
the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) that the federal government has welcomed the relocation of the United States and French military bases to Nigeria.
The PRP has opposed the relocation of United States and French military bases to Nigeria, warning of the dangers of compromising the country’s sovereignty and security.
“The presence of foreign military bases on Nigerian soil may lead to a gradual erosion of our national sovereignty,” the party warned
The federal government through the Information Minister said in a signed statement “The Federal Government is aware of false alarms being raised in some quarters alleging discussions between the Federal Government of Nigeria and some foreign countries on the siting of foreign military bases in the country.
“We urge the general public to disregard this falsehood. The Federal Government is not in any such discussion with any foreign country. We have neither received nor are we considering any proposals from any country on the establishment of any foreign military bases in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian government already enjoys foreign cooperation in tackling ongoing security challenges, and the President remains committed to deepening these partnerships, to achieve the national security objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Following the exit of the French military from their bases in Sahel countries, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic was a result of rising nationalism in the host countries.
There were speculations that France and the United States (U.S.), which left the Niger Republic under the same circumstance, are interested in relocating their military bases to countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and the Benin Republic.
Some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) last week threatened action should the Federal Government allow foreign military bases in the country.
The French military counterterrorism campaign, Operation Barkhane, which started in 2013, left its Mali base in August 2022 after nine years of operations.
The withdrawal coincides with worsening ties between Paris and Bamako, which has been looking more and more to Russia for support against armed groups associated with al-Qaeda and ISIS (ISIL) who have widened their sphere of influence while fighting for dominance in the nation’s large central area.
After more than ten years of fighting armed groups in the Sahel region of West Africa, the last French forces left Niger in December last year.
Last month, the United States announced that it would withdraw more than 1,000 military soldiers from Niger, forcing the Biden administration to reconsider its counter-terrorism policy.
In addition, scores of U.S. military personnel left Chad last month as part of a larger, involuntary reorganization of Washington’s security strategy in a hazardous region of Africa.
No to military base long decided, says Fafowora
Before the Federal Government clarified the issue yesterday, a foreign affairs expert Ambassador Dapo Fafowora, said: “I thought the issue of not allowing foreign military bases in Nigeria was settled a long time ago.
“In 1961we, the students of the then University College, Ibadan, fought successfully for the abrogation of the Anglo/Nigeria defense pact.
“During our civil war, we were careful enough not to allow any foreign military bases in Nigeria or enter into any military alliance with foreign powers. We bought weapons from all of them, except France, without entering into any formal military alliance with them.
“ECOMOG was a wholly Nigerian-led military formation in West Africa. The US and its NATO allies promised military assistance which did not materialize.
“One of the primary objectives of Nigerian foreign and defense policy has been to get French forces out of Africa. Now the French are being forced to leave the Sahel. Are we going to allow our country to offer France a military base in Nigeria when it has always been our strategy to get all foreign military bases out of Africa? Was this objective not one of the reasons why we joined the NAM? And how can we qualify for membership in the BRICS countries if we offer the US and France military bases in Nigeria.?
“ I don’t even believe that this government will even think of this kind of military engagement with the US and France. I am confident that this government will not entertain or seriously entertain this sordid idea.
“If it does it will be digging its own political grave as it will be confronted by massive domestic opposition. Nigeria does not deserve to survive if it needs to bring in foreign forces for its security. This will be a negation of what this country has stood for in its post-colonial history.”
No room for foreign boots on our soil’ – PRP
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has opposed the relocation of United States and French military bases to Nigeria, warning of the dangers of compromising the country’s sovereignty and security.
In a statement on Monday, Comrade Muhammed Ishaq, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the PRP, cautioned the Nigerian government against entering into any agreements that would lead to the establishment of foreign military bases on Nigerian soil.
“The presence of foreign military bases on Nigerian soil may lead to a gradual erosion of our national sovereignty,” the party warned.
According to the PRP, the relocation of these military bases could expose Nigeria to new security threats, including unintended consequences and resentment from local communities.
“These foreign troops may not fully understand the complex and dynamic nature of the security landscape in Nigeria, which could lead to unintended consequences,” the party said.
The PRP also expressed concerns about the economic implications of hosting foreign military bases, including the strain on Nigeria’s limited resources and the potential for increased dependency on foreign aid.
“The costs associated with accommodating these troops, maintaining infrastructure, and addressing potential security issues could strain our already limited resources,” Comrade Ishaq said.
The PRP warned that the relocation of American and French military bases to Nigeria could potentially strain relations with other African countries, leading to diplomatic tensions and regional instability.
“Such a move might be perceived as an act of aggression or a power play, leading to diplomatic tensions and regional instability,” the party said.
The PRP emphasized the need for Nigeria to prioritize its internal security needs and strengthen its defense capabilities, rather than relying on foreign powers.
“We believe that such a decision would pose significant risks to our national sovereignty, security, environment, and economy,” Comrade Ishaq said.
The PRP advised the government to reject any proposals for the relocation of foreign military bases to Nigeria, and instead prioritize diplomacy, regional cooperation, and sustainable development.
“We call on the Nigerian government to outrightly reject such proposals for our national interest,” the party said.
We are here to serve you with quality news and information.
However, your donations, reactions, and advert placement are welcome.
Conta, call us on 08033783144 (WhatsApp)
08023469999
idowuadelusi@yahoo.com, idowuadelusi@gmail.com,
thepathfindernews0@gmail.com
Follow our reports also on X @idowuadelusi and Facebook.