Govt denies plan to welcome foreign militar y bases

Northern leaders, PRP caution

TFederal Government has dismissed alleged discussions with countries to establish foreign military bases in Nigeria.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, clarified, yesterday, in a statement. He added that the current administration had not even received any proposal for such. The minister reassured government’s commitment to existing ties in addressing the security challenges facing the country.

In a letter dated May 3 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly leadership, northern elders had urged the government to resist pressures from the United States and France to site military bases in the country.

The letter highlighted concerns about lobbies to station in Nigeria, troops previously deployed in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The Arewa chieftains expressed worry that such an agreement could jeopardise Nigeria’s defence and security. A LSO yesterday, the Peoples Redemption Party ( PRP) opposed the reported relocation.

It pointed out that such a decision would endanger the country’s sovereignty, security, environment and economy. Instead, the party called for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to address the challenges faced in the Sahel region, especially the model that prioritises diplomacy, regional cooperation and sustainable development.

PRP’S acting National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Ishaq, in a statement, yesterday, argued that the purported relocation of the foreign military bases comes with a myriad of potential dangers that could adversely affect the security, sovereignty and overall well- being of Nigeria.

The party added that the presence of foreign military bases could lead to potential environmental and social impacts.