Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has urged President Bola Tinubu to halt what he describes as a “France retreat” in the face of Nigeria’s escalating insecurity, warning that the withdrawal of French military presence from the West African region could further destabilize the country’s fight against terrorism and banditry.
Obi’s comments come amid a wave of French military pullouts across West Africa, following coups and mounting anti-French sentiment in countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. France, once a key security partner in the Sahel, completed its troop withdrawal from Niger in December 2023 after the country’s military junta severed ties with Paris and demanded the exit of all foreign forces. This move followed similar expulsions from Mali and Burkina Faso, signaling a broader collapse of French military influence in the region.
With the French exit, analysts have voiced concerns over a security vacuum that could embolden jihadist groups and criminal networks, especially as Niger had served as a strategic hub for regional counterterrorism operations. Obi, referencing these developments, called on President Tinubu to take decisive action to prevent Nigeria from suffering the same fate, stressing that the country cannot afford to lose vital international support at a time when insecurity is surging.
Contrary to rumors circulating on social media, both the Nigerian government and French authorities have denied any plans for France to establish new military bases in Nigeria following their withdrawal from neighboring states. Officials maintain that no such proposals exist, and there are currently no French or US military bases on Nigerian soil.
Obi’s intervention highlights the growing anxiety over Nigeria’s security trajectory as international partners recalibrate their roles in the region. He urged the Tinubu administration to prioritize diplomatic engagement and regional cooperation to fill the gaps left by departing foreign forces, warning that failure to do so could leave Nigeria more vulnerable to the threats that have plagued its neighbors since the French drawdown.
