Key leaders in the North have sounded a warning to the Nigerian government against relocating US and French military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria.
News About Nigeria reports that the warning was contained in a letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu and National Assembly leaders.
The northern elders urged the government to resist pressures from the US and France to station troops previously based in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The letter, dated May 3, 2024, expressed concerns that Nigeria might agree to a defence pact that could jeopardise its defence and security.
The northern leaders pointed out that the removal of French and American forces from Niger raises questions about the benefits of foreign military bases.
They argued that US operations in the Sahel have not curbed terrorism, which has grown since the military base was established.
“The American operations in Niger Republic, for example, were ostensibly to pre-empt and uproot terrorists from the Sahel region. The result has so far been quite unimpressive, if not a complete failure,” they said.
The leaders warned against Nigeria sacrificing its sovereignty and independence for alliances that could have negative future impacts.
They pointed out that Nigeria has consistently opposed defence pacts with foreign countries since the 1960s.
The letter also highlighted the potential environmental and economic impacts of hosting foreign troops.
Military base construction and operation, they said can harm the environment, including deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, and biodiversity loss, affecting agriculture and indigenous communities.
The statement further said that the presence of foreign troops can inflate local prices and living costs, impacting low-income residents.
Signatories to the letter include Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Kabiru Sulaiman Chafe, Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, Jibrin Ibrahim, Auwal Musa, and Y. Z. Ya’u, all prominent figures in the northern region.
