The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has criticized the reported approval for France to establish an expeditionary military base in Nigeria, condemning it as a threat to national sovereignty.
CNG alleges that the decision stems from a bilateral agreement granting France access to Nigeria’s vast mineral resources, a move the group claims undermines the country’s independence. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the National Coordinator of CNG, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, voiced strong opposition to the development.
Charanchi stated that since President Bola Tinubu’s administration began, Nigerians have observed diplomatic moves aimed at compromising the country’s sovereignty under false pretenses.
“Barely a year into his presidency, France—a European nation with a history of belligerence—was identified as a key promoter of ECOWAS’ disintegration, which destabilized the previously peaceful West African sub-region,” Charanchi said.
He further accused France of igniting conflict in West Africa as part of its efforts to maintain neocolonial control over its former colonies, using Nigeria as a tool. “It took collective wisdom and an uncommon display of Pan-Africanism by renowned statesmen and millions of concerned citizens to quell the chaos instigated by France,” he added.
Charanchi also recalled France’s opposition to the launch of the West African common currency, highlighting its history of imperial interference.
“For Nigeria, a nation with a proud history of championing African sovereignty, to submit to such foreign influence is shocking,” the CNG leader said, reaffirming the coalition’s commitment to resist the establishment of the base.
The group vowed to continue advocating for Nigeria’s sovereignty and the protection of its resources from external exploitation.
