Nigerian Senate Approves Deployment of Troops to Benin Republic Following Coup Attempt

​The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday gave legislative backing to President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Benin Republic. The deployment is intended to support ongoing regional efforts to restore and maintain peace and stability in the neighbouring country after a foiled coup attempt last weekend.
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Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the approval during plenary, noting that the decision was in line with Section 5, Part 11 of the relevant statutes. Lawmakers unanimously voted in favour of the deployment, emphasizing the regional security threat posed by instability in any West African state.
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Akpabio stressed that “An injury to one is an injury to all,” affirming Nigeria’s responsibility to support its ECOWAS partner. The swift troops deployment is part of a broader, coordinated regional security intervention. ECOWAS recently declared a state of emergency across West Africa due to a surge in military takeovers in the sub-region, including in Benin’s northern neighbors, Niger and Burkina Faso.

​The Senate’s consent letter is to be transmitted immediately to President Tinubu, authorizing the continuation of Nigeria’s role in the regional stabilization force to preserve constitutional order in Benin Republic.