Nigeria’s Senate has granted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu full approval to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin following Sunday’s failed coup attempt in the neighbouring country.
The approval came on Tuesday after the Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the President’s formal request submitted under Section 5 (2), Part II of the 1999 Constitution seeking consent for a regional peace mission in line with constitutional and ECOWAS obligations.
Tinubu’s Letter to the Senate
Reading the letter during plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio disclosed that the request followed “an exceptional and immediate call” from the Government of Benin for air support after soldiers attempted to overthrow President Patrice Talon.
Tinubu wrote:
“I seek the consent of the Senate on the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin for a peace mission.”
He added that Benin is facing “an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and the destabilization of democratic institutions.”
The President emphasized that Nigeria, bound by “ties of brotherhood and ECOWAS treaties,” must intervene urgently to stabilize Benin.
The crisis erupted Sunday morning when soldiers calling themselves the Committee for Refoundation seized the national broadcaster and announced the removal of President Talon.
The operation was led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, a former member of Talon’s security detail and commander of a National Guard artillery battalion (2023–2025).
By Sunday afternoon, the coup was crushed by Benin’s loyal forces with major support from Nigerian air and ground operations, which pursued fleeing coup plotters.
Senate Approves the Deployment
Upon receiving the President’s request, the Senate immediately went into the Committee of the Whole.
The motion was put to a voice vote, and lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the deployment.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced:
“The request of the President is hereby approved.”
“Let me thank the President for complying with the constitutional requirement of seeking Senate approval before deploying troops. The President has taken the right step.”
He directed that a formal letter of approval be dispatched to the Presidency immediately.
Text except headline courtesy of Daily Sun
