Nigeria Has No Military Ties with France, No Plan to Sabotage Niger Republic – NSA Ribadu
The National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has debunked a claim making the rounds that Nigeria is collaborating with France to sabotage and destabilize Niger Republic and other former French colonies that have parted ways with Paris.
The Niger Republic junta has accused Nigeria of working with France to cause insecurity in his country. Nigeria has officially denied this claim and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) too has called the claim “false”.
On Friday in a statement, the NSA said that Nigeria has no foreign military base. He added that though Niger Republic could have issues with France, Nigeria would not severe ties with Paris on that note.
He said, “Nigeria has no history of hosting foreign military bases. Even our former colonizer, the United Kingdom, has never established a base here. We have consistently resisted such attempts, including from the United States. In contrast, Niger has hosted foreign bases, including one by the U.S., which they recently expelled. Our relationship with France has always been about economic cooperation, not military collaboration. While Niger’s leadership may have issues with France, it is unreasonable to expect Nigeria to sever ties with France over Niger’s internal disputes.
“Once again, I emphasise that Nigeria’s relationship with France is strictly economic and has no military implications. We will not allow our country to be used as a tool for destabilising Niger. We hope that Niger’s leadership will understand this and work with us as allies and brothers to ensure peace and stability in the region.
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