The Senate on Tuesday granted full approval to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian armed forces to the neighbouring Benin Republic, a move aimed at helping crush an attempted coup and stabilising the country.
The request — contained in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary — cited a direct appeal from the Beninese government for immediate military support, including air power, after mutinous soldiers attempted to seize power.
Immediately after the letter was read, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole to deliberate on the request. Lawmakers quickly returned to plenary, and by unanimous voice vote approved the deployment, giving the President constitutional backing under Section 5(5), Part II of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Senate President Akpabio described the intervention as necessary to safeguard regional stability, noting that “instability in any neighbouring state poses a threat to the entire region.” He emphasised that Nigeria has a responsibility — under the regional framework of ECOWAS — to support the restoration of constitutional order in Benin.
In a related statement, the Presidency confirmed that Nigerian troops, including air force jets and ground forces, had already been deployed to Benin following the request by Beninese authorities. The Nigerian armed forces reportedly helped in quelling the coup attempt and restoring control to loyal forces. State House
With the Senate’s consent transmitted to the Presidency immediately, analysts say the decision underscores Nigeria’s leading role in West African security and reaffirms its commitment to collective defence under ECOWAS.
