Jega, Former Minister, and Northern Leaders Oppose Proposal to Establish US and French Military Bases in Nigeria

Several prominent leaders from the northern region have issued a warning against the potential relocation of military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria by the United States and French governments.

In a letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly leadership, these leaders emphasized the importance of not yielding to such pressure.

The signatories of the letter include respected figures such as Professor Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Professor Kabiru Sulaiman Chafe, Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani), and Y. Z. Ya’u.

The letter highlights the alleged aggressive lobbying by the American and French governments for Nigeria and other Gulf of Guinea countries to sign new defense agreements, allowing the redeployment of troops expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The concern expressed by the signatories revolves around the potential compromise of Nigeria’s defense and internal security, given its strategic location among the Gulf of Guinea countries.

They also question the effectiveness of hosting foreign military bases, citing the recent expulsion of French and American troops from Niger and the escalating terrorism in the Sahel despite the presence of these bases.

It is crucial to emphasize that military operations of this nature only bring about dangers and no benefits. Take, for instance, the American operations in Niger Republic, which were supposedly aimed at preempting and eradicating terrorists from the Sahel region.

However, the outcome thus far has been far from impressive, if not an outright failure. It is evident that the presence of American troops and intelligence personnel in Niger Republic serves no useful purpose.

This is primarily due to the fact that terrorism has actually escalated dramatically since the United States initiated its operations in the area.

In addition, caution must be exercised to avoid compromising Nigeria’s sovereignty and independence for short-term strategic alliances that could have severe long-term consequences. Furthermore, hosting foreign troops often leads to a rise in prices and living costs in local communities, disproportionately impacting those with lower incomes.

From an environmental standpoint, the establishment and operation of military bases can result in significant degradation of the local environment.

This includes deforestation, soil erosion, water contamination, and loss of biodiversity, all of which have detrimental effects on agricultural communities and indigenous populations.

The long-term environmental damage could further impede economic opportunities and sustainable development. Despite these concerns, neither the presidency nor the National Assembly has made any public statements regarding the open letter.