'Nigeria Has No Plans to Host American, French Military Bases'

Nigerian Information Minister Mohammed Idris has refuted claims from some stakeholders in the country that the West African nation was considering approving a deal with the United States and France to establish military bases in the country to host soldiers from both Western powers following their ouster from neighboring Niger.

Minister Idris said the government "has neither received nor was it considering" any proposals for the establishment of foreign military bases in Nigeria. The government, he said, already enjoys foreign cooperation in tackling ongoing security challenges, "and the President remains committed to deepening these partnerships".

Earlier a group of leaders from the country's northern region wrote an open letter to President Bola Tinubu urging him to "tread with caution" over the alleged signing of a defence pact with the US or the French government, noting that any such deal "will be a profound threat to the country's sovereignty and independence".

Meanwhile, in a statement released following the sixth U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission in Abuja on April 29-30, both countries renewed their shared commitment to promote democracy and respect for human rights, as well as cooperate for economic prosperity and to " jointly overcome health and security challenges".