US and French governments are lobbying Nigeria to host their military bases - report

US and French governments are lobbying Nigeria to host their military bases ©provided by Business Insider Africa

The American and French governments are reportedly lobbying Nigeria and other regional countries to sign new defense agreements allowing them to redeploy expelled troops.

・Northern leaders have expressed concerns about the likely relocation of US and French military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria.

・The military presence of the US on the continent is diminishing, evidenced by its recent withdrawal of troops from Chad, and Niger.

・American and French governments have allegedly been lobbying Nigeria and other regional countries to sign new defence agreements, enabling them to redeploy expelled troops.

There have been recent concerns about the likely relocation of US and French military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria.

In an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly, northern leaders cautioned the federal government against succumbing to military pressure from the American and French governments.

The military presence of the US on the continent is diminishing, evidenced by its recent withdrawal of troops from Chad. Last month, US troops exited neighbouring Niger following orders from the country’s junta. In their place, Russian military instructors have arrived in Niger as part of a new agreement with the military leaders.

The American and French governments have allegedly been lobbying Nigeria and other regional countries to sign new defense agreements allowing them to redeploy expelled troops.

According to the letter, the northern leaders voiced apprehensions regarding the economic and environmental consequences of hosting foreign military bases.

The letter reads:

“Economically, the presence of these bases could potentially divert government funds and resources away from critical areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development toward maintaining and securing these military installations. This redirection of resources could stunt economic growth and exacerbate poverty in a country where much of the population already lives under challenging conditions,” they said.

The letter also noted that hosting foreign troops often leads to increased prices and living costs in local areas, disproportionately affecting the lower-income population.

“Environmentally, the construction and operation of military bases can lead to significant degradation of the local environment. This includes deforestation, soil erosion, water contamination, and loss of biodiversity, which are detrimental to agricultural communities and indigenous populations…”

Moreover, the letter emphasized that the establishment of foreign military bases in Nigeria would exacerbate existing tensions between Nigeria and neighbouring French nations.

Citing data from the Pentagon, the letter said Western military operations aimed at combating terrorism in the Sahel region have been deemed largely ineffective if not outright failures.

The leaders urged the government to carefully weigh the broader ramifications of such agreements and prioritize Nigeria’s long-term peace and security over short-term strategic considerations.