In a letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly, several Northern leaders have voiced their concerns about the potential relocation of US and French military bases to Nigeria from the Sahel region.
The signatories of the letter, including Abubakar Mohammed from the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training (CEDDERT); Kabiru Chafe, former minister of state for petroleum resources from the Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP); Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Jibrin Ibrahim of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD); Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani) of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CCISLAC); and YZ Ya’u of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), urged caution in allowing such a move citing potential dangers it poses to Nigeria.
They alleged that the US and French governments have been lobbying Nigeria and other countries in the region to sign new defense pacts that would permit the redeployment of their expelled troops.
Concerns were also raised regarding the economic and environmental impacts of hosting foreign military bases in Nigeria.
The letter highlighted the possibility of diverting government funds and resources towards maintaining and securing military installations, potentially hindering economic growth and exacerbating poverty.
Additionally, hosting foreign troops could lead to increased living costs and environmental degradation in the local areas, adversely affecting communities and biodiversity.
The leaders expressed apprehension that the presence of foreign military bases would strain relations between Nigeria and neighboring French countries and have widespread implications for defense and internal security.
They pointed out that Nigeria’s strategic location in the Gulf of Guinea has attracted interest from both France and the US for carrying out surveillance flights and operations in the Sahel region from Nigerian bases.