The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to send Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin to help restore peace and stability following last weekend’s attempted coup.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced this on Tuesday during plenary, saying the request was considered in the Committee of the Whole in line with section 5, Part 11 of the Constitution.
Lawmakers voted unanimously in favour of the deployment, giving full legislative backing for the regional security move.
Akpabio described the decision as a step in the right direction, stressing that unrest in a neighbouring country threatens the whole region.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” he said.
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He added that Nigeria has a responsibility to support its Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) partner. The Senate’s approval letter will be sent to President Tinubu immediately.
Tinubu had asked the Senate to approve the troop deployment, noting Nigeria’s historical responsibility to assist Benin under ECOWAS security frameworks.
He said the crisis requires “urgent external intervention” to restore stability and prevent further breakdown of order.
The attempted coup in Benin Republic happened on Sunday, when some military personnel declared the removal of President Patrice Talon.
The soldiers, who called themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), went on national television to announce that they had met and concluded that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic”.
The country’s military, however, quickly regained control and ended the attempt.