Nigeria not considering US, France military bases, says minister

The Nigerian government has dismissed claims that it is in discussion with the United States and France to set up military bases in Nigeria.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Idris dismissed the claim after some reports suggested that American and French governments have been lobbying the governments of Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana to agree to sign new defense pacts that would enable them to redeploy their soldiers expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Niger Republic.

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The report alleged that some northern leaders sent an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly (NASS), expressing concern over the proposed relocation of US and French military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria.

However, Idris said the claims were false and urged Nigerians to disregard the 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,” Idris said.

“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.”