President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally asked the Nigerian Senate to approve sending troops to the Republic of Benin after the recent attempt on President Patrice Talon’s life.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter during Tuesday’s plenary. The request asks lawmakers to authorise a peace mission meant to help stabilise Benin after armed men attacked the president’s home in the Le Guézo area of Cotonou early on Sunday.
Mr Tinubu said Nigeria must act to protect democracy in the region and that Benin had asked for help. He added that the planned deployment fits with Nigeria’s commitments under regional security arrangements.
Before the letter, the Nigerian Air Force carried out a joint operation with Beninese forces to help contain the situation. The president’s submission to the Senate now seeks approval for a wider mission that would include ground troops.
Under Section 5 (5), Part 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the president needs Senate consent for any military deployment outside Nigeria. Senators are expected to review the request in the coming days and weigh Nigeria’s regional role against constitutional limits.
The coup attempt in Benin follows a string of similar events in parts of West Africa, including Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. By asking for clearance to send forces, Mr Tinubu is positioning Nigeria as a country ready to help restore order when neighbours face military threats.
The Senate’s decision will determine how far and how long Nigerian forces will be involved in the effort to bring peace back to Benin.
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