Nigeria’s Senate approved President Bola Tinubu’s deployment of troops to the Benin Republic after assisting in quelling a coup attempt on Sunday. Tinubu, in a letter to the lawmakers on Monday, informed them that Benin’s authorities had asked for “exceptional and immediate provision of air support” by Nigeria’s armed forces after reporting an “attempted unconstitutional
Nigeria’s Senate approved President Bola Tinubu’s deployment of troops to the Benin Republic after assisting in quelling a coup attempt on Sunday.
Tinubu, in a letter to the lawmakers on Monday, informed them that Benin’s authorities had asked for “exceptional and immediate provision of air support” by Nigeria’s armed forces after reporting an “attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and disruption of democratic institutions.”
Tinubu had urged lawmakers to act “expeditiously” to support the stability of Benin, which shares a border about 700 km long with Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.
President Tinubu’s letter for troop deployment to Benin is for a peacekeeping mission, citing the coup attempt and the need for external intervention, with the Senate considering the matter
As a follow-up to the foiled coup in the Republic of Benin, President Bola Tinubu has written to the Nigerian Senate, seeking approval to deploy military troops to the neighbouring country for a peacekeeping mission to support democracy and stability.
Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, stated that the Senate expeditiously considered the President’s request and approved the deployment of troops to the Benin Republic, citing the principle of “an injury to one is an injury to all”.
Godswill Akpabio had earlier read the President’s letter to the lawmakers during the plenary session, stating that President Tinubu’s request is pursuant to Section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution. The President explained to the Senate the current situation in the Republic of Benin, highlighting the role of the Nigerian government in light of the relationship between the two countries and the collective security efforts within ECOWAS.
The letter reads, “Distinguished Senate President, request for the consent of the Senate for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin for a peace mission.
“Pursuant to Section 5, Subsection 5, Part 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I seek, further to consultation with the National Defence Council, the consent of the Senate for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin. This request is made further to a request received from the Government of the Republic of Benin for the exceptional and immediate provision of air support by the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The distinguished Senate may wish to note that the Government of the Republic of Benin is currently faced with an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and the disruption and destabilisation of democratic institutions. The situation, as reported by the Government of Benin, requires urgent external intervention. The distinguished Senate considers the close ties of brotherhood and friendship that exist between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, as well as the principles of collective security upheld within ECOWAS.
After reading the letter, Senator Akpabio referred the issue to the committee of the whole “for immediate action”.
This comes against the backdrop of recent developments in the Republic of Benin, where some military officers announced their takeover of the government on the country’s national television and social media.
The group, which identified itself as the Military Committee for Refoundation, further announced that the President and all political officeholders have been effectively removed.
However, the Beninese presidency declared hours later that they had quashed the coup, ensuring the safety of their president and other political office holders.
The Nigerian government had announced that it played a crucial role in foiling the coup attempt by granting the request of the Beninese government by providing Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to enter the country and take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the country’s national TV and a military camp where they regrouped.
A statement by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the Nigerian government received two requests from the Beninise’ ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Note Verbal, for an “ immediate Nigerian air support in view of the urgency and seriousness of the situation and to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.”
Onanuga further noted that ‘in the second request, the authorities in Benin requested the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets within Beninoise airspace for surveillance and rapid intervention operations under Benin-led coordination.
“The Beninese government also requested Nigerian ground forces for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed groups.”
“Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, said all requests had been met, and Nigerian ground forces were now in Benin.”
