Northern leaders have warned against US and French military bases in Nigeria, citing concerns over economic and environmental degradation.
Top northern intelligentia have written to President Bola Tinubu, kicking against the relocation of United States and French military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria.
In a letter dated May 3, 2024, and addressed to President Tinubu and the National Assembly leaders, the northern elders urged the federal government to resist such pressures.
The letter stated that the US and France are lobbying Nigeria and other Gulf of Guinea nations for defence agreements to station troops previously in Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Niger Republic.
The northern leaders are worried that Nigeria might agree to this defence pact and jeopardise its defence and security.
They noted that the removal of French and American forces from Niger questions the benefit of foreign military bases.
The letter highlighted that US operations in Sahel have not curbed terrorism, which has grown since the military base was established.
Signatories to the letter include Abubakar Mohammed of 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).
Relations between Niger Republic and France became strained after the military coup in the Sahel country.
France had condemned the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and demanded that constitutional order be returned.
After seizing power, the junta made France’s military exit one of its key demands, a decision that neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, both also former French colonies, took after successful coups.