The United States government has clarified that there are no plans to establish a military base in Nigeria, despite recent speculation following the withdrawal of American troops from Niger Republic.
Major General Kenneth Eckman, the Element Lead for Coordination at US Africa Command, Department of Defense West Africa, addressed the issue during a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
“There are no plans for a U.S. base here in Nigeria. I recognize it is a popular concern,” General Eckman stated. He emphasized that while the presence of U.S. forces can have both positive and negative impacts, there have been no discussions between U.S. and Nigerian authorities about setting up a base in Nigeria. “I want to be perfectly clear on that,” he added.
General Eckman, who works closely with African militaries to enhance security across the continent, explained that the U.S. is focused on addressing violent extremism in the Sahel region, particularly in areas affected by groups like ISIS-Sahel and JNIM. “The problem we’re trying to solve is Sahelian-based violent extremism, and if the U.S. is not functioning in Niger, the question is then where should we be?” he said.
He noted that this has led to an “outside-in” approach, considering the role of Nigeria due to its strength and close partnership with the U.S. However, he reiterated, “I’m not surprised that some people assumed that there were discussions going on about this.”
Regarding the withdrawal of American troops from Niger, General Eckman provided an update, stating that the process is nearly complete. “We’ve achieved, together with our Nigerien partners, the safe, orderly, and responsible withdrawal of U.S. forces,” he said. The last major movement occurred on August 5th, when the final U.S. forces and materials left Air Base 201 in Agadez. “As I speak to you today, all former U.S. areas, facilities, and material that remain in Niger have been turned over to the Nigerien military and authorities,” he confirmed.
While the withdrawal was successful, General Eckman expressed concern about the broader security situation in the region. “The bad news is that regional security is not going well,” he said, highlighting ongoing efforts to work with regional military partners to address the growing threat of violent extremism.
General Eckman also discussed the challenges of combating terrorism in West Africa, stressing that a purely military approach is not enough. “What we really need to get to is get the underlying causes, the foundational reasons that cause terrorism to exist and perpetuate,” he explained. He emphasized the importance of governance, access to services, and addressing issues like competition for resources and climate change as critical factors in reducing terrorism.
The U.S. remains committed to supporting its African partners through a combination of military assistance, diplomacy, and humanitarian efforts, according to General Eckman. He praised the work of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad Basin, led by a Nigerian military member, as an example of effective regional cooperation.
“Our partners sit on a solid foundation of U.S. diplomacy, of U.S. mutually beneficial trade and investment, and on top of development, humanitarian assistance,” he added, underscoring the U.S.’s ongoing commitment to stability in the region.
