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Nigerian Defense denies French Military base claims

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No plan for French military base in North east

The Defense Headquarteres (DHQ) has denied reports that a French military base would be located in the northeast.

Defense media operations director Edward Buba responded in a statement on Monday.

Public affairs and political analyst Mahdi Shehu claimed in an X post on Saturday that Femi Oluyede, the chief of army staff, had welcomed French soldiers and that a French military installation would soon be established in the northeast.

“Yesterday, the Chief of Army staff received the first contingent of French soldiers and immediately deployed them to Maiduguri to ‘HELP NIGERIA IN FIGHTING BOKO HARAM’”, the post reads

“The same boko haram they claimed to have decimated and are scamping (sic) for safety.

“Before the blinking of an eye, a FRANCE military base will be physically seen in Maiduguri, perhaps before the new year so that they will ‘FIGHT’ boko haram and begin to explore and prospect on huge mineral resources and surely begin to exploit, harass, intimidate, kill, incapacitate, annihilate the local people, which is typical of France presence in Africa.

“Perhaps soon after the Maiduguri deployment, France military may be deployed to Sokoto/Zamfara/Kebbi/Katsina axis to ‘FIGHT’ insurgents and in the process, establish another military base, and like in Maiduguri, begin to explore, prospect freely all the abundant solid minerals resources in that location.

“Next is to deploy the France military to Kogi in the name ‘of FIGHTING ANSARU & PROTECTING SHIRORO POWER STATION’.

“Another military base will be put in place, and the real motive of solid minerals stealing will continue in earnest”.

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Deceptive and Mischievous

The reports, according to Buba, were the product of troublemakers.

“The attention of Defence Headquarters has been drawn to online reports alleging the arrival of the first  contingent of French soldiers in Maiduguri towards establishing a French Military base in North East Nigeria”, he said. 

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria hereby states unequivocally that this information is fake, totally false and mischievous.

“It would be recalled that Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa CFR, recently addressed this matter in different media forums, in which he debunked the news and such speculations.

“Accordingly, the general public is urged to disregard these news and speculations still making rounds in some quarters.

“It is clear that these are the antics of mischief makers.

“Nevertheless, the military will continue to carry out its constitutional responsibilities, most professionally and ensure the territorial integrity of our nation”.

 

France to revive more than 2,000 mines in Nigeria

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and France, more than 2,000 of the nation’s abandoned mining pits are anticipated to be reopened.

This was said over the weekend by Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

During President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to France, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed.

According to a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Media Segun Tomori, Alake clarified that the deal will create new chances for the abandoned mining pits to be cleaned up.

According to the minister, President Tinubu’s efforts to reposition the nation’s solid minerals industry for global competitiveness have been strengthened by the Memorandum of Understanding.

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According to him, the two nations decided to work together to create initiatives that would advance and broaden the value chain of the industry for both.

According to him, the two nations decided to work together to create initiatives that would advance and broaden the value chain of the industry for both.

Critical minerals including copper, lithium, nickel, and cobalt have been identified by the two nations as rare earth elements that are necessary for clean energy technology, the minister continued.

The statement states that the promotion of sustainable mining practices through the implementation of initiatives and programs that lessen the environmental impact of mining is the main element of the MOU.

In order to diversify and ensure the supply of vital minerals and decarbonize energy projects that are essential to the value chain, it also entails the creation of cooperative extractive and processing projects through co-financing by public and private organizations.

Both nations committed to working together on training, research, and Franco-Nigerian student exchanges in order to transmit knowledge and skills under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Benjamin Gallezot, the French Inter-Ministerial delegate for Critical Ores and Metals, signed on behalf of France, while Alake signed on behalf of Nigeria.

Both countries committed to implementing global best practices in the implementation of projects designed to enhance the lives of the local population impacted by mining while prioritizing openness.

It is anticipated that administrators of institutions in the essential metals sector would enhance their ability to manage the value chain of the industry through frequent bilateral and multilateral training, seminars, and events.

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Alake pledged that the ministry will use the collaboration to attract French investors to the mining industry.


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