Concerns have been raised about the potential relocation of US and French military bases from the Sahel region to Nigeria.
Northern leaders have written a letter to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly, warning against succumbing to military pressure from the US and French governments.
The US military presence on the continent is diminishing, and Russian military instructors have arrived in Niger as part of a new agreement.
The leaders are concerned about the economic and environmental consequences of hosting foreign military bases, which could divert government funds away from critical areas like education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
The presence of these bases could also lead to increased living costs, disproportionately affecting the lower-income population.
The letter also emphasized that the establishment of foreign military bases in Nigeria would exacerbate existing tensions between Nigeria and neighboring French nations.
