By Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. Establishing a Military base by the United States of America and other superpowers is part of strategies to maintain relevance across different continents, of which Africa is not an exception.
One of the controversial issues that created so much waves in Nigeria recently despite the economic hardship amid fuel scarcity is the establishment of U S A and French military bases in the West African nation(Nigeria).
The American Military has more than two dozen outposts that stretch from one side of Africa to the other.
The available data shows that 29 American military bases are located in 15 different countries or territories with the highest concentrations in the Sahelian states on the west side of the continent, as well as the horn of Africa in the east.
Initially, America and France had a Military base in Nigeria’s immediate Neighbour Niger Republic before the recent military coup d’etat which put the landlocked country at loggerhead with its former colonial master France and the United States of America.
Objections against the USA and France Military base in Nigeria
Professor Bolaji Akinyemi is the former Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. He said the proposed establishment of the United States and French military bases in Nigeria is a development that could bring Nigeria into confrontation with another superpower.
The former Minister stated this in an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday 7th May 2024.
“The idea of the United States establishing a military base in Nigeria is the last thing that Nigeria wants. I am shocked about this development and I hope it is not true. We have a long history of attempts at installing a military base in Nigeria. This would not be the first time that there would be an attempt to have a military base in Nigeria if it is true that there is such an attempt. The last thing Nigeria wants is to have a military base by a superpower because in a way, Russia moving into Niger, into Mali, into Burkina Faso, and the United States moving into Nigeria bring us right into a confrontation with each other and that is the last thing we want. I know that we have problems with jihadists, with ISIS, we have security problems but the solution is not for us to be in confrontation with another superpower. We will maximize our problems. Therefore I hope it is not true.”He said.
Professor Akinyemi added that France and the United States have not been beneficial in the Sahel, adding that, otherwise, countries like Chad and Niger would not have asked the United States to withdraw their troops from their country.
“If the presence of France and the United States had been beneficial in the Sahel, those countries would not be asking them to leave. They have not found it beneficial, that is number one. Number two, all you have done is to bring the jihadists and ISIS, and the East-West to bring them further down towards Nigeria. Right now, Mali and the other countries have been a buffer between us and ISIS. Now that you would be removing the United States and what have you done, you have brought them right into the border with Nigeria”The ex-minister stated.
Will the rejection affect Nigeria’s US diplomatic ties with The SA and France
On whether a rejection of the military base establishment proposed by Nigeria will affect its diplomatic relationship with the United States Akinyemi said this is not the first that Nigeria and the United States would have a conversation on this issue of having a military base.
“There was a time when the United States raised this issue of having a West African base for the United States and several West African countries were consulted and at the end of the day, Nigeria turned down the proposal.
The interest of Nigeria is not the only country that is going to be affected if we decide to have an American base in Nigeria. Nigeria and the United States have a broad-based interest that overrides just having a military base.
After all, when we turned down the British base in 1960, our relationship did not come crashing down. It continued. We will simply reformat our relationship.
Don’t let us export our problems. I know we have problems within the Nigerian armed forces. Let us not sort it out by bringing the Americans. You bring in the Americans, you bring them in with their problems, shouldn’t do that “The diplomat reiterated.
Federal government’s reactions
Reacting to the issue of the establishment of USA and French military bases, the Nigerian government described the much-circulated story as not true.
The Federal government added that it is not true that there are discussions between Nigeria and some foreign countries on the siting of foreign military bases in the country.
Mohammed Idris is the Nigerian minister of Information and national orientation. He urged Nigerians to disregard the falsehood.
The minister said the Federal Government has neither received nor considered any proposal for the establishment of foreign military bases in the country. Idris stated this in a statement on Monday 6th of May 2024.
“The Nigerian government already enjoys foreign cooperation in tackling ongoing security challenges.
The President remains committed to deepening these partnerships, to achieve the national security objectives of the Renewed Hope agenda” the statement reads.
To conclude this piece is to look at this issue from two perspectives.
One is why the Niger Republic, which enjoys years of Military cooperation with France chased the France Military from its land even though the new military government is not on good terms with its former colonial master but no matter how Niger needs France as the major investor in the economically backward nation but still send them away.
There were more than 1,500 French troops providing security in the landlocked nation.
So this is a food for thought for Nigeria whose citizens are not happy with the story of creating military bases for the US and France.
Another thing to take into consideration as mentioned by the former Nigerian Foreign Affairs minister Professor Bolaji Akinyemi is that if confirm true Nigeria is providing space for US and France troops to settle while the Russian military is based in Niger Republic and other West African countries, the region is put against itself as two rival superpowers divided the countries for their benefit, not for the benefit of the poor nations that need to be more United to tackle their common challenges of insecurity, poverty, and bad governance.
President Bola Tinubu as the leader of the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) should not allow himself to be used in setting fire to the West African region by Western powers who want to re-colonized Africa at this time because of the huge untapped wealth in the continent.
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