Mohammed Rabiu Bako.

It is no new that foreign governments are lobbying to establish military bases along the borders of Nigeria. This is indeed a trap that will surely be regretted.
The presence of western forces in Nigeria should not be supported by the Nigerian government because despite being present in the Sahel region for many years, they have been ineffective in addressing the security challenges posed by terrorism. Terrorism continues to prevail and even escalate in some areas, indicating their failure to keep the region safe.

Countries like Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and now Senegal have taken the decision to expel foreign forces, and they should be applauded for that. Nigeria should follow suit and not allow foreign forces to establish a base within its borders. Granting such permission would not only mean sharing valuable intelligence but also make us vulnerable to those who claim to have our best interests at heart.

It is important to remain skeptical of foreign forces and their motives. Nigeria should prioritize the development of its own security apparatus and work towards finding internal solutions to the terrorism challenges it faces. Depending on external powers has proven to be ineffective and may not serve Nigeria's best interests in the long run. So therefore, the Senate committee on Security and Defence must reject this outrightly for the general interest of Nigerians; the foreign affairs ministry must also be able to look deeply into this, as well as advise the the Executive Council properly so as to come together and defend the sovereignty of Nigeria.

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Rabiu Bako is an Elder-statesman and Senior Citizen, Kaduna State, Nigeria.