President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally written to the Senate requesting consent for the immediate deployment of Nigerian troops to neighboring Benin Republic. The request is for the troops to participate in a peace mission in response to an ongoing attempted military coup in Benin.
The letter, read during Tuesday’s Senate plenary session, seeks the legislative backing required for the deployment under constitutional provisions. The President, who is also the current Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stressed the need for a swift, regional response to restore democratic order and stability in the troubled country.
Nigeria’s potential military intervention is aimed at supporting the legitimate government in Benin and preventing further destabilization in the West African sub-region, which has recently seen a series of military takeovers.
