France has refuted recent claims of a plan to establish a permanent military base in Nigeria and exploit Nigeria’s natural resources.
French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Marc Fonbaustier, disclosed this at the music concert organised by the embassy to end activities marking the global 16 Days Activism Against Gender-based Violence in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Fonbaustier, who acknowledged an increased momentum in Nigeria – France relations within the last 12 years, said the relationship was built on mutual respect of both nations’ strategic independence and sovereignty, not a permanent physical base in Nigeria.
“There is no hint of such a plan in place. France has no intention of that sort. We can enhance military cooperation in some fields including security, but not as a permanent presence in Nigeria. This is absolutely not in our lexicon or in the mood of the times.
“As you know, France is withdrawing from countries, sometimes, voluntarily, other times not so. But in Nigeria, this has absolutely never been an issue,” he said.
Fonbaustier further described alleged claims of France’s intent to exploit Nigeria’s natural resources as a ‘misinterpretation’ of a recent MoU signed by both countries to boost Nigeria’s solid minerals.
“That MoU has been misinterpreted. It is a framework agreement in which President Tinubu asked France, just as other partners like Germany have asked France, to provide technical assistance to help Nigerian companies and Nigerian authorities to better use their natural resources. It is nothing more than that,” he added.
The ambassador, however, noted that France was keen on boosting relations with Nigeria in the area of training, agriculture, culture and the creative industries and technology, thereby expanding the scope of economic and business to business relations between Nigeria and France.
With the presence of 100 French companies in Nigeria, providing 16000 direct jobs, and 100000 indirect jobs, and Nigeria’s four major banks currently operating in Paris, Fonbaustier hopes such increased and reciprocated ‘cross exchanges will yield positive results.
“We will never impose French solutions or way of doing things to our Nigerian friends. We listen carefully to what you need,” he said.
