President Bola Tinubu has formally asked the Senate to approve the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin, following a failed attempt by rogue soldiers to overthrow President Patrice Talon.
The request was contained in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary, aired live on National Assembly TV. Tinubu explained that the Beninese government urgently called for Nigeria’s assistance, specifically air support, after soldiers briefly seized a TV station in Cotonou before being subdued by loyal forces.
Tinubu said the situation posed a threat to Benin’s democratic stability and required immediate external intervention. He noted that the request followed consultations with the National Defence Council and was made in line with constitutional provisions.
He emphasised Nigeria’s responsibility to assist its neighbour, citing shared regional security interests and the principles of collective defence upheld by ECOWAS. Tinubu urged the Senate to grant swift approval to enable timely deployment.
