LIVE UPDATES
The Federal Government has confirmed 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.
This clarification became imperative following the concern raised by northern leaders about the potential risks associated with such a move.
In a letter dated May 3, 2024, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly leaders, the northern elders urged the government to resist pressures from the US and France.
The letter highlighted concerns about lobbying efforts for defence agreements to station troops previously in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
But in a statement on Monday, the Minister of Information, Idris, debunked the claim.
Idris said the Federal Government was not engaged in any discussions with foreign countries regarding the establishment of military bases in Nigeria, nor had it received any proposals for such.
The minister urged the public to disregard false alarms and emphasised the government’s commitment to existing foreign cooperation in addressing security challenges.
He said, “The Federal Government is aware of false alarms being raised in some quarters alleging discussions between the Federal Government of Nigeria and some foreign countries on the siting of foreign military bases in the country.
“We urge the general public to disregard this falsehood."
