The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has dismissed the reports alleging that permission had been granted to France to establish an expeditionary military base in Nigeria.
Musa, who faulted the insinuation that the recent visit of President Bola Tinubu to France where a lot of bi-lateral agreements were signed, included allowing foreign military bases in Nigeria.
According to him, no foreign body will establish any foreign military base in Nigeria, neither in the North, nor in the South, not anywhere. “Nothing like that. Mr. President knows the implications. He knows that he must protect Nigeria and he will never allow any foreign body”.
“Mr. President has said it should be very clear. Whatever he was signing was a bi-lateral agreement on trade, culture, tradition, cooperation, and economy. We will continue to partner together bi-laterally, because we do training together, and we will consistently send our officers, which is a normal thing; but having a foreign military base in Nigeria is not part of Mr. President’s plan”, he stressed.
The Defence Chief reiterated the commitment of the armed forces to peace and security in Nigeria, Africa, and globally, through various initiatives and strategies.
