Recent developments have sparked controversy regarding the establishment of military bases in Nigeria, with the French embassy issuing a statement to clarify the situation. Onyinye Madu, the Head of Communications at the Embassy of France in Nigeria, stated that there have been no discussions between France and Nigeria regarding military bases in the country. Madu emphasized, “No discussions have taken place or are planned between France and Nigeria regarding the relocalisation of military bases.”
The response from the French Embassy came after Nigerian Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, denounced claims made in an open letter and urged Nigerians to disregard the misinformation. This letter, signed by influential leaders and civil society organizations, expressed concerns about potential defense pacts that could lead to the relocation of foreign troops expelled from neighboring Sahel countries to Nigeria.
There were reports on lobbying efforts by the American and French governments in Gulf of Guinea countries, including Nigeria, to sign new defense agreements. These agreements would allow for the redeployment of troops previously stationed in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The letter to Nigerian leaders highlighted these lobbying efforts, stating, “The American and French governments have been desperately lobbying the governments of Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana to agree to sign new defense pacts.”
The signatories of the letter, including figures such as Prof Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Prof Kabiru Sulaiman Chafe, and Prof Attahiru Jega, raised concerns about the economic and environmental impacts of hosting foreign military bases. They emphasized the potential diversion of government resources from critical sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
