The Nigerian government has denied reports that it is considering permitting the establishment of foreign military bases in the country to combat insurgency and other crimes, as a way of accommodating American and French troops following their expulsion from neighbouring countries like Niger Republic and Chad.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the Federal Government was aware of false alarm being raised in some quarters about discussions with some foreign countries, notably the United States and France, on the siting of foreign military bases in Nigeria.

There have been rumours of late that the United States and the French governments had perfected plans to relocate their military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria, with many Nigerians cautioning the President Bola Tinubu administration from accepting such a proposal as it would pose dangers to the country.

But Idris insisted there were no such plans in the present as the reports were mere rumours which should be disregarded.

“The Federal Government is aware of false alarms being raised in some quarters alleging discussions between the Federal Government of Nigeria and some foreign countries on the siting of foreign military bases in the country,” Idris said in the statement.

“The Federal Government is not in any such discussion with any foreign country.

“We have neither received nor are we considering any proposals from any country on the establishment of any foreign military bases in Nigeria.

“The Nigerian government already enjoys foreign cooperation in tackling ongoing security challenges, and the President remains committed to deepening these partnerships, with the goal of achieving the national security objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

“We urge the general public to totally disregard this falsehood,” the minister said.

As discussions on press freedom persist, Albert Mwiinga, Station Manager of Byta FM, sheds light on the hurdles journalists encounter in accessing public information.

Mwiinga identified bureaucracy as a major obstacle impeding media access to information in Zambia.

Speaking to Zambia Monitor in Choma, Mwiinga identified bureaucracy as a significant barrier hampering journalists’ access to vital public information.

“The media has long grappled with the challenge of accessing information, particularly from public sources, due to entrenched bureaucratic practices,” Mwiinga explained.

He lamented the absence of legislation compelling officials to disclose public information to the media.

“There is currently no legal mechanism to compel officials to share such information, making it exceedingly challenging. Moreover, bureaucratic red tape often exacerbates the situation,” Mwiinga observed.

Mwiinga expressed optimism regarding the potential impact of the Access to Information Bill once it becomes operational, foreseeing enhanced media independence.

“Although progress is being made, journalists remain subject to legal constraints, including defamation and libel laws. The regulatory framework, such as the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), further complicates matters,” Mwiinga said.

His analysis underscored the persistent bureaucratic hurdles impeding media access to public information in Zambia.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.