Following reports that the US and French governments were lobbying Nigeria to cite military bases in the country, the federal government of Nigeria has refuted the report stating that it was a total falsehood.
A statement by Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation on 6th May 2024, stated that the federal government was not in any of such discussions with any foreign country.
“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.”
It urged the public to disregard such a report as the present government led by President Bola Tinubu is committed to deepening partnership through existing relationships with foreign countries, especially in tackling the issue of insecurity.
“The Nigerian government already enjoys foreign cooperation in tackling ongoing security challenges, and the President remains committed to deepening these partnerships, with the goal of achieving the national security objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The statement partly reads, “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 totally disregard this falsehood.”
There have been recent concerns about the siting of US and French military bases which were expelled from the Sahel region after the military junta in the Niger Republic took over power.
Northern leaders, last week, wrote to the National Assembly advising it to resist any pressure from the US and French governments to site its military base in the country.
A report alleged that the US and French governmwnt has been lobbying Nigeria and other regional countries to sign new defense agreement following the withdrawal of its troops from Chad and the subsequent arrival of Russia military instructors in Niger due to new agreement.
