Six groups have written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu and leadership of both the green and red chambers of the National Assembly on the dangers of the relocation of American and French military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria.

The letter was signed by Abubakar Siddique Mohammed for the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training (CEDDERT), Zaria, Kabiru Sulaiman Chafe for Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP), Kaduna, Attahiru Muhammadu Jega for Bayero University, Kano, Jibrin Ibrahim for Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Abuja, Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani) for Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Abuja and Y. Z. Ya’u for
Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Kano.

A copy of the letter obtained by The Sun Newspapers in Kaduna on Saturday revealed that the American and French governments have been desperately lobbying the governments of Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana to agree to sign new defense pacts that would enable them to redeploy their soldiers expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

According to these groups, there was a widespread apprehension that the signing of the pact by Nigeria would have wide-ranging implications for defense and internal security of the country.

“On December 22, 2023, the last of France’s 1,500 troops deployed in Niamey and two other bases in the tri frontier of Niger were marched out of the country. On March 16, 2024, Niger Republic suspended the military agreement with the United States signed in 2012, which allowed the US to station about 1100 US troops and civilian personnel permanently in Niger, to operate from two American bases in the country.

“American Airbase 101 is located in Niamey while Airbase 201 is located near the small northern city of Agadez, about 920 kilometers southwest of Niamey. These French and American bases were used by the French and the Americans to carry out manned and unmanned surveillance flights and other operations in the Sahel.

“The American and French troops were expelled because their presence did not serve any useful purpose. Instead, they were using the defense pact to carry out surveillance operations in the region to serve their geopolitical strategic interests.

“As a result of this expulsion, the Gulf of Guinea countries especially Nigeria, are being pressured to compromise their sovereignty by harboring these foreign troops who would come to serve the interests of NATO to the detriment of the national interests and security of the countries of the Gulf of Guinea.

“Nigeria must be bold enough to reject the proposal, if for no other reason than to return a good turn. At least since independence Nigeria and Niger have maintained relatively cordial relations that have always helped in stabilizing the sub-region on several occasions.

“We the signatories of this open letter believe strongly that the economic and
environmental impacts of hosting foreign military bases are profound and far-reaching.

“Economically, the presence of these bases could potentially divert government funds and resources away from critical areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development toward maintaining and securing these military installations.

“Hosting foreign troops often leads to increased prices and living costs in local areas, disproportionately affecting the lower-income population.

“Environmentally, the construction and operation of military bases can lead to significant degradation of the local environment. This includes deforestation, soil erosion, water contamination, and loss of biodiversity, which are detrimental to agricultural communities and indigenous populations.

“The long-term environmental damage could further hinder economic opportunities and sustainable development.

“As stewards of Nigeria’s sovereignty and guardians of its national interests, it is incumbent upon our leadership to heed the lessons of history and the voice of its people.

“The relocation of foreign military bases to Nigerian soil represents not just a potential compromise of our sovereignty but also sets a precedent that may lead to unforeseen geopolitical, economic, and social consequences.

“We, the signatories of this open letter, urge you to consider the broader implications of such agreements and to prioritize Nigeria’s long-term peace and security over short-term strategic alignments.

“By standing firm against the pressures to house foreign bases, Nigeria can affirm its commitment to self-determination and foster a more stable and prosperous future for all its citizens. Let us choose a path of cautious diplomacy and strategic independence, ensuring that our nation remains a beacon of stability and a model of sovereign integrity in Africa”, the letter read in part.

Sun