Tinubu Seeks Senate Approval to Deploy Nigerian Troops to Benin Republic
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the consent of the Senate to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin as part of a peacekeeping mission following the country’s recent attempted coup.
The request was contained in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary session.
Tinubu explained that the deployment is in response to an appeal from President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic after soldiers linked to a group called the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, briefly seized the state television station in Cotonou on Sunday in an attempt to overthrow the government.
According to Tinubu, the situation in Benin involves “an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and disruption of democratic institutions,” requiring “urgent external intervention.”
He added that Nigeria’s involvement aligns with the long-standing ties between both nations, the principles of collective security upheld by ECOWAS, and the provisions of Section 5(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which allow the President—after consulting the National Defence Council—to deploy armed forces outside the country in situations of imminent threat, subject to Senate approval within 14 days.
The President emphasized that the request complies with constitutional guidelines and that Nigeria has already provided initial air support to help counter the attempted coup.
The Senate has referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.
A legislative source clarified that the constitution grants the President up to 14 days to notify the Senate after ordering limited combat operations abroad, countering claims that approval must come within 24 hours.
The presidency has described Nigeria’s swift military support as a demonstration of Tinubu’s leadership in defending democracy and promoting stability across the West African sub-region.
