We’ve not received proposal from U.S., France to establish military base in Nigeria: FG

“We urge the general public to totally disregard this falsehood.”

Enunosowo Mpama and Olumayowa Samuel • May 6, 2024

Mohammed Idris (Credit: Ministry of Information and national orientation)

The federal government has dismissed reports asserting that it plans to establish foreign military bases in Nigeria.

The minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, addressing this issue in a statement on Monday, urged the general public to disregard false alarms, claiming that it was not engaged in discussions with foreign countries to establish military bases in Nigeria.

In the statement, he noted: “The Federal Government is aware of false alarms being raised in some quarters alleging discussions between the Federal Government of Nigeria and some foreign countrues on the siting of foreign military bases in the country.

“We urge the general public to totally 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.”

He emphasised the government’s continued commitment to sustaining strong partnerships with the countries with which Nigeria enjoys cooperation in matters pertaining to security.

According to him, the federal goverrnment has neither received nor is it considering any proposals from any country for the establishment of foreign military bases in Nigeria.

In a May 3, 2024 letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu and members of the National Assembly, the Peoples Redemption Party vehemently cautioned the Nigerian government against entering into any agreement with the U.S. and some European countries to relocate the military bases of these countries from the Sahel to Nigeria.

The party condemned any of such agreements, underscoring the overarching consequences of an agreement of this nature to include, threat to sovereignty, security concerns, economic implications, diplomatic tensions, among others.

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