*FG reacts to report, says it’s not considering any foreign military base in Nigeria
*That there’s no discussion with any foreign country to site military base in the country
*Urges the general public to totally disregard the falsehood
*As PRP kicks against alleged planned relocation of US, French military bases to Nigeria
By Lanre Oloyede with Agency report
The Federal Government has said that it is not considering establishing any foreign military base in Nigeria.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement on Monday, described as “false” reports in certain quarters that the Nigerian government is considering siting such military bases in the country.
“The Federal Government is aware of false alarms being raised in some quarters alleging discussions between the Federal Government of Nigeria and some foreign countries on the siting of foreign military bases in the country.
“We urge the general public to totally disregard this falsehood,” the minister said.
Of late, some northern leaders, in a letter, cautioned President Bola Tinubu against allowing the United States and the French governments to relocate their military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria, saying accepting such a proposal would pose dangers to the country.
However, the information minister said, “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, with the goal of achieving the national security objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda”, he added.
In a related development, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has opposed the alleged planned relocation of United States and French military bases to Nigeria.
The party warned authority and Nigerians of the dangers of compromising the country’s sovereignty and security.
A statement issued on Monday by the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Muhammed Ishaq, advised the Nigerian government against entering into any agreements that would lead to the establishment of foreign military bases on Nigerian soil.
The party further advised, “The presence of foreign military bases on Nigerian soil may lead to a gradual erosion of our national sovereignty.”
It noted that the relocation of these military bases could expose Nigeria to new security threats, including unintended consequences and resentment from local communities.
The statement added that the foreign troops may not fully understand the complex and dynamic nature of the security landscape in Nigeria, which could lead to unintended consequences.
The PRP also expressed concerns about the economic implications of hosting foreign military bases, including the strain on Nigeria’s limited resources and the potential for increased dependency on foreign aid.
The party believed that the costs associated with accommodating these troops, maintaining infrastructure, and addressing potential security issues could strain the country’s already limited resources.
The PRP believed that the relocation could potentially strain relations with other African countries, leading to diplomatic tensions and regional instability.
It added that such a move might be perceived as an act of aggression or a power play, leading to diplomatic tensions and regional instability and emphasized the need for Nigeria to prioritize its internal security needs and strengthen its defense capabilities, rather than relying on foreign powers.
The party opined that such a decision would pose significant risks to the national sovereignty, security, environment, and economy and advised the government to reject any proposals for the relocation of foreign military bases to Nigeria, and instead prioritize diplomacy, regional cooperation, and sustainable development
