President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the approval of the Senate for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin for peacekeeping and security operations. The request was conveyed through a letter read on the floor of the Senate by its presiding officer during plenary.
In the communication, the President explained that the request was made pursuant to constitutional provisions governing military engagement outside Nigeria. He stated that the deployment became necessary following an appeal from the Republic of Benin, a neighbouring state with longstanding ties of cooperation and regional partnership.
According to the letter, the decision was influenced by recent instability in Benin, where a group of soldiers briefly seized the national television station and claimed to have overthrown the government. The attempted coup was quickly contained, aided by rapid security support from Nigeria.
The President emphasised that the proposed deployment aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to regional peace, mutual assistance, and the preservation of constitutional order within West Africa.
