There Is No Plan For The Establishment Of French Military Base In The Country – Nigerian Military

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Nigeria’s Military High Command, on Monday, December 16, 2024, strongly rejected claims that  its French counterparts are  set to establish a base in the North East region.

Director of Defence information, Edward Buba, a Major General, in a statement, described the claim as false and misleading.

The Source reports that speculations have been rife in the social media regarding the alleged plans by the Federal Government to allow the establishment of a French Military base in the country, particularly in Borno, the epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency.

Human rights crusader, Mahdi Shehu , in a  viral video posted on the social media had alleged that several French military top operatives have arrived in Maiduguri and other parts of the Boko Haram infested state for the project.

However, he alleged that the officers arrived under the guise of assisting Nigerian troops in fighting Boko Haram terrorists.

Shehu pointedly accused the duo of Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff of having clandestinely welcomed the first batches of the French Military contingents  in  preparations for the establishment of a French Military base in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

According to him, the Military Base which they are claiming will enable French troops to assist Nigerian military in fighting Boko Haram will sooner than later, be used as a launch pad in exploiting the country’s mineral resources.

But reacting to the allegations, General Buba insisted that there is no such plan now or in the future.

“The Defence Headquarters has been made aware of online reports claiming the arrival of a contingent of French soldiers in Maiduguri for the purpose of establishing a French Military base in the North East Nigeria.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria is firmly declaring that this information is completely false and misleading.

“The Chief of Defence Staff ,General Christopher Musa, had recently addressed similar concerns in various media outlets, debunking these rumours and speculations.

We urge the general public to disregard these unfounded claims circulating in certain circles. It is evident that these are the machinations of trouble makers

Nonetheless, the military will continue to fulfill its constitutional duties with professionalism and safeguard the territorial integrity of our nation”, the military statement reads

The Source further reports that the latest apprehension over the possible  establishment of a French military base in Nigeria is coming on the heels of the reported withdrawal of the French troops from Chad where it had maintained presence for decades.

The Chadian experience also follows French Military exit from  Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso in the wake of the military juntas in the countries, its former colonial territories.