- Defence Pact to Allow Nigeria to Absorb Troops Expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger
- Cautions Against Compromising Nigeria’s Sovereignty and Independence
- Says US Military bases Could Potentially Divert Government Funds and Resources Away
- Operation of Military Bases Can Lead to Degradation of the Local Environment.
Northern elders has called on President Bola Tinubu-led administartion to resist all attempt to site the United States (US) and the French governments military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria.
The leaders of the north said that the governments of the US and France had been pressuring Nigeria and other nations in the area to sign new defense agreements that would let them to redeploy their expelled soldiers.
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Speaking in an open letter to President Tinubu and the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, the Northern elders said the Federal Government should not succumb to such pressure.
The officials voiced worries over the economic and environmental effects of hosting foreign military bases in addition to claiming that the establishment of the military facilities would put the nation in risk.
Citing data from the Pentagon, the letter said the operations of the Western forces to uproot terrorists from the Sahel region have so far been quite unimpressive if not a complete failure.
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.
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“Moreover, 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. The long-term environmental damage could further hinder economic opportunities and sustainable development.”
The leaders added that the presence of foreign military bases in Nigeria would worsen already strained relations between Nigeria and neighbouring French countries.
They urged the government to consider the broader implications of such agreements and to prioritise Nigeria’s long-term peace and security over short-term strategic alignments.
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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); and Attahiru Jega, former chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Others are 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).
The presidency and the National Assembly have yet to make any public comments on the open letter.
