President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin following an attempted military takeover in the neighbouring country.
The President disclosed that members of the Nigerian Armed Forces were sent on Sunday to support efforts to restore democratic order after a faction of soldiers in Benin moved to topple the government.
The request, contained in a letter titled “Deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin for a peace mission,” was read during plenary on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Tinubu, citing Section 5(5), Part 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), said the decision followed consultations with the National Defence Council and a formal appeal from the Beninese government.
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He explained that Benin sought “exceptional and immediate air support” from Nigeria to contain the crisis and forestall further destabilisation of democratic institutions.
“The Government of the Republic of Benin is currently faced with an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power,” Tinubu wrote. “The situation requires urgent external intervention. Given our longstanding ties and the collective security principles upheld within ECOWAS, it is our duty to provide the requested support.”
Akpabio referred the President’s request to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.
