President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking its approval to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin.
The request is conveyed in a letter read at plenary by the Senate President , Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday.
Tinubu cited Section 5, Subsection 5, Part 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), following consultations with the National Defence Council.
According to the letter, the appeal follows an urgent request from the Government of Benin Republic for exceptional and immediate air support from the Nigerian Armed Forces.
President Tinubu explains that Benin is currently facing an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power, leading to the disruption and destabilization of its democratic institutions.
He notes that the situation requires swift external intervention.
He emphasizes that, given the close ties of brotherhood between both nations and the principles of collective security under ECOWAS, Nigeria has a duty to provide the necessary support.
Omo Bazuaye
