No Ongoing Discussion – France Speaks On Plan To Set Up Military Bases In Nigeria

• France Speaks On Plan To Set Up Military Bases In Nigeria.

• Concerns raised over potential relocation of US and French bases to Nigeria.

• Federal Government clarifies no talks with foreign countries on military bases.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the French Government has clarified that there are no ongoing discussions with Nigeria regarding the establishment of military bases in the country.

This statement comes in response to concerns raised by Northern leaders and Civil Society Organisations about the potential relocation of US and French military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

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In a letter to Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly, the leaders urged the government to resist pressures from the US and France.

They questioned the benefits of foreign military bases, particularly noting the lack of effectiveness in curbing terrorism in the Sahel region despite the presence of American troops and intelligence personnel in Niger.

However, in an interview with The Punch, the Head of Communication at the French Embassy in Nigeria, Onyinye Madu, said there was no such plan to establish any military base in the country.

Madu added that no discussions have taken place or are planned between France and Nigeria regarding the relocalisation of military bases.

She said, “The French Embassy in Nigeria would like to point out that contrary to the claims made in the open letter quoted in the article, no discussions have taken place or are planned between France and Nigeria regarding the relocalisation of military bases.”

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Also, the Federal Government, on Monday, clarified that there were no discussions with foreign countries regarding the establishment of foreign military bases in Nigeria.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the clarification in a statement he signed on Monday.

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