The
United States is investing at least $50 million in a military air base
in Nigeria’s northern neighbour, Niger Republic that will be capable of
deploying drones.
The
U.S. already has a presence in the capital Niamey, where it shares an
airbase with France’s anti-Islamist force, Operation Barkhane.
MQ-9 Reaper drones are stationed there, according to the BBC.
But
the new facility, in the central city of Agadez, will give Washington
greater ability to use drones against Islamist extremists in
neighbouring countries like Libya, Mali and Nigeria’s Boko Haram.
A
spokeswoman for the Pentagon, Michelle Baldanza, confirmed recently
that the U.S. had agreed to pay for a new runway and “associated
pavements, facilities and infrastructure”.
She estimated the cost at $50 million but The Intercept, which first reported the story, said it is projected to cost twice that.
The
investigative news site reported that it obtained files that showed the
project is considered “the most important U.S. military construction
effort in Africa” and will be completed in 2017.
Drones,
also known as UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) or RPAs (Remotely Piloted
Aircraft), are used by the military for surveillance and to drop bombs
in places where it is too risky or difficult to send a pilot.
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