President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the Senate to validate his earlier deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin.
Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during Tuesday’s plenary.
According to the letter, the President anchored his request on Section 5 (5), Part 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates legislative consent for the deployment of armed forces outside the country.
“In further consultation with the National Defence Council, I seek the consent of the Senate for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin,” the letter read.
Tinubu explained that the intervention followed an urgent appeal from the Benin Republic government for “exceptional and immediate air support” after an attempted unconstitutional takeover of power in the neighbouring country.”
He said the situation posed a grave threat to the stability of Benin’s democratic institutions, stressing that Nigeria had a responsibility, based on ties of “brotherhood and friendship” and the collective security principles of ECOWAS to respond swiftly.
The Senate President referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.
On December 7, military officers in Benin Republic announced that they had toppled the government, but the presidency later said the coup attempt had been foiled and confirmed that President Patrice Talon remained safe.
Nigeria had promptly agreed to provide both air and ground support to help deter the mutineers and stabilise the situation.
